The Gambia has set out an ambitious plan to achieve near-universal electricity access within the next two years, positioning regional power trade and cross-border gas developments at the centre of its energy strategy. The government aims to raise national electricity coverage to 90 per cent by the end of 2025 and reach full access by the close of 2026, according to Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines Nani Juwara.
With national electrification currently estimated at about 75 per cent, the country has made significant progress in recent years. However, officials acknowledge that closing the remaining gap will require a shift away from costly, fuel-oil-based generation towards regional solutions that lower costs and improve reliability. The strategy reflects how smaller West African economies are increasingly leveraging shared infrastructure and neighboring resource developments to overcome structural energy constraints.
At the domestic level, the Gambian government plans to commit up to $500 million in local financing to extend electricity connections to underserved communities, particularly in regions such as Niamina East and Lower Saloum. Complementing this effort is support from development partners, most notably through the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Access Project (ECORIB). The program is expected to connect 395 communities, largely in the Central River Region and Lower River Region, by December 2025.
Read also: South Africa’s Grootfontein Solar Plant reaches commercial operation
While these initiatives address last-mile access, the backbone of The Gambia’s energy transition lies in deeper regional integration. Central to this is the West African Power Pool (WAPP), a cooperative framework involving 14 countries that seeks to link national grids into a single regional electricity market. By enabling cross-border power trade, WAPP is designed to allow countries to import electricity from lower-cost producers rather than relying solely on domestic generation.
For The Gambia, where electricity tariffs average around $0.23 per kilowatt-hour due largely to dependence on imported heavy fuel oil (HFO), access to regional power could be transformative. The World Bank estimates that effective regional power trade in West Africa could deliver annual savings of between $5 billion and $8 billion.
Projects under the Gambia River Basin Development Organization (OMVG) transmission expansion have already strengthened interconnections, allowing electricity to flow across borders and improving supply to areas from the Greater Banjul Area to the eastern town of Basse.
Alongside grid integration, the country’s longer-term energy outlook is increasingly linked to new gas production emerging off the coast of Senegal and Mauritania. The joint Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) offshore gas project, which recently entered production, is estimated to hold more than 400 billion cubic metres of recoverable gas. Its development has positioned both countries as new entrants into the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market.
The availability of regional gas is reshaping power planning across West Africa. Senegal has already begun commissioning gas-fired generation, including the 300-megawatt Cap des Biches combined-cycle power plant, as it transitions away from oil-based generation. For The Gambia, proximity to this emerging gas hub offers a cleaner and more stable alternative to HFO imports, reducing exposure to volatile global oil markets and logistical risks.
Energy officials argue that natural gas provides a pragmatic bridge fuel for the region, supporting economic growth while lowering emissions compared with diesel and fuel oil. For a small, import-dependent system like The Gambia’s, sourcing gas from nearby producers also reduces geopolitical and supply-chain vulnerabilities.
The government’s approach combines short-term reliance on regional electricity imports with a gradual reorientation of domestic generation plans towards gas and renewable energy. Authorities have committed to updating the Electricity Sub-Sector Strategic Roadmap by December 2025 to reflect revised timelines, integrate variable renewable energy sources and address previous implementation gaps. Competitive procurement for new generation capacity is also being emphasized as a way to attract private investment and lower costs.
Energy analysts say the strategy highlights the growing importance of regionalism in Africa’s power sector. Rather than pursuing expensive, standalone national generation projects, smaller economies can achieve faster and more affordable electrification by tapping into shared infrastructure and regional energy markets. In West Africa, where hydropower resources, gas reserves and renewable potential are unevenly distributed, this model is increasingly seen as essential.
If successful, The Gambia’s plan could deliver electricity access to more than 600,000 people currently without power, while stabilising tariffs and improving supply reliability. Beyond national benefits, it also underscores the broader promise of regional integration under ECOWAS frameworks, where coordinated planning and investment can unlock economies of scale that individual countries cannot achieve alone.
As West Africa deepens cooperation on power trade and gas development, The Gambia’s experience may serve as a reference point for other small states seeking to meet universal access goals without bearing unsustainable fiscal or environmental costs.
Engage with us on LinkedIn: Africa Sustainability Matters
