Gambia electricity projects reach 91% completion despite delays

The Gambia’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Nani Juwara, informed the National Assembly that major electricity projects managed by the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) have reached 91.87 percent completion. This progress comes despite various implementation challenges, including resettlement issues and contractor performance.

During parliamentary sessions, lawmakers raised concerns regarding the Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernisation Project (GERMP), which has reportedly exceeded its completion timeline by more than two years. Specifically, members of Parliament questioned whether the government has collected liquidated damages from the contractor to account for these delays, as recommended by a 2023 audit.

Minister Juwara stated that the matter is “controversial” and may require arbitration. He noted that because the project has not been fully closed, he could not immediately confirm if the damages had been paid. Additionally, the Minister addressed issues regarding withholding tax and payment verification, stating that safeguards have been implemented to prevent previous weaknesses in the payment process.