Petroleum Ministry and MCC Strategise on 25 Million Dollar Power Sector Program
By Mariama Dem
The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, in partnership with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), engaged in a two-day workshop to deliberate on The Gambia’s Power Sector Threshold Program Support (PSTS) Contract. Signed in November 2021, this $25 million agreement aims to bolster poverty reduction and spur economic growth.
GFA Consulting Group in Germany is tasked with executing the PSTS Contract, focusing on key deliverables. These include studying the institutional separation of NAWEC, conducting GIS studies, executing customer surveys, and providing support to reform teams.
Commencing on January 31, 2024, the workshop hones in on the contract’s expectations and deliverables. The program unfolds in two phases, with the first concentrating on foundational changes and the second directing resources towards strategic investments in the energy sector.
The CEO of Millennium Challenge Account, The Gambia, Mr. Saffie Dambelleh, emphasised the timeliness of the meeting, stressing its importance in the context of a two-and-a-half-year program involving millions of dollars. Dambelleh detailed the USD 3.4 million first phase, dedicated to fundamental change, and the USD 8.4 million second phase, targeting strategic investments.
During the workshop, Mr. Ulrich Theuerkauf, Director of the Energy Department at GFA Consulting Group, underscored the project’s challenges and opportunities, particularly in transitioning to economically viable renewable energy usage.
The US Ambassador to The Gambia, H.E. Madam Sharon L. Cromer, highlighted the US government’s commitment to supporting The Gambia’s goal of achieving universal access to electricity by 2025. She stressed the project’s importance in improving the governance and operational capacities of the power sector, ultimately increasing access to reliable electricity throughout the country.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Hon Seedy Keita, represented the Minister of Petroleum and Energy at the workshop. Keita acknowledged the productive bilateral relationship between The Gambia and the United States that led to this project’s initiation. He emphasised the achievements made through the commitment of both partners, stating that the workshop is a result of the fruitful bilateral relationship.