Barrow promises uninterrupted power and lower bills after Gambia solar deal
The Gambia’s President Adama Barrow has promised households and businesses an electricity supply that does not cut out, and lower power bills, after the country signed a major solar energy deal. Barrow made the promise on Saturday, 31 October, at a ceremony at State House, describing the agreement as the largest solar deal in the country’s history.
Under the deal, the national power company, NAWEC, has signed a 25-year agreement with Soliaris Africa to build the second phase of the Soma Solar Park. The plant will add about 148 megawatts of solar power, with battery storage so electricity made during the day can also be used at night. The energy minister, Nani Juwara, said the plant is expected to produce around 250 gigawatt-hours of electricity a year once it is running.
Barrow said the new capacity is more than the country currently needs, and that it would ease the power cuts and high bills Gambians have lived with for years. He put the value of the deal at $160 million. He did not say when the plant will open, or when bills will fall.
Why it matters
Power cuts and expensive electricity have been a daily problem for homes, schools, hospitals and small businesses in The Gambia for years. A large solar plant with battery storage could make supply steadier and cheaper, because sunlight costs nothing once the panels are built, and stored power can cover the evening hours when demand is high.
The deal also moves the country away from power made with imported fuel, which is costly and leaves prices at the mercy of world markets. If the plant delivers what was promised, it would be a big step towards the government’s aim of giving everyone in the country reliable electricity.
What happens next
No start date for building the plant, and no date for the promised bill cuts, has been given yet. The next things to watch for are a construction timetable from NAWEC and Soliaris Africa, a date for when the plant will start feeding power into the grid, and any announcement on new electricity tariffs.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://gambiannews.com/blog/barrow-promises-uninterrupted-electricity-lower-tariffs-after-signing-160-million-solar-deal (Kerr Fatou, 31 October 2026)
- https://energynewsafrica.com/gambia-nawec-signs-25-year-power-purchase-agreement-with-soliaris-africa-for-148-44-mwp-solar-project/ (Energy News Africa, 29 October 2026)
