TRANSCO – CLSG: Wields Impressive Coordination Meetings for the Development of the Gambia River

By Abdul Rahman Bangura–

NEW AFRICA DAILY NEWS (NADN) Freetown, Sierra Leone – Etienne Bailey – the Director of the Project Implementation Unit at the TRANSCO CLSG steered the team followed by TRANSCO’s Engineering Coordinator – Erik Achi, and the Procurement and Contract Management Specialist – Mohamed Keita. TRACTEBEL-ENGIE the Owner’s Engineer for TRANSCO CLSG and AECOM the Owner’s Engineer for OMVG participated in the Meeting. The OMVG was represented by its General Secretary, Dauda Samble Sow.

…Dakar, the meeting brought out a positive thus, there is a pact to interconnect the networks as a result bolstering the CLSG network to bolster the transmission of abundant electricity across the nations. The two organizations are impressive with the progress made in their diverse projects – 99% of accomplishment for CLSG and 97% for OMVG.

The arrangement of activities between the CLSG and OMVG networks are desired to be lift off in Julylifted3 and taking into cognizance the stout endeavors undertaken by the two parties, OMVG will subsidize tractors of OMVG and TRANSCO CLSG to expect the completion of the two remaining substations including Kamakwie and Yiben in Sierra Leone. The respective Owner’s Engineers have been instructed to conduct close follow-ups and monitoring of the works. Much more importantly, Committees will be put in tandem to make available and organize the synchronization process.

TRANSCO CLSG and OMVG intend to revamp the electricity market by sharing hydroelectric resources in the sub-region and integrating means of production and transmission of electrical energy across the region.

Following the synchronization process, Guinea which has much hydropower in stock, will make the extra electricity supply available to the CLSG network, as a result sparking major financial activities across the lines. The meetings concurred that commercial framework discussions will be inaugurated in June of 2023 amongst the four utilities that are anticipated to deliberate and summarize all the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and Transmission Service Agreements (TSAs).

As the CLSG Project, the OMVG Energy Project encompasses four nations comprising The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal. This subregional organization is the executing agency for integrated development programs in the region and is focused on the rational management of common resources of the Gambia, Kayanga-Géba, and Koliba-Corubal Rivers. These river basins provide an opportunity for power production. The OMVG is being financed by member countries with international assistance, specifically from the African Development Bank (AfDB).

For New Africa Daily News Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports,  Africa Correspondent