The National Assembly Member for Upper Fulladu West, Dawda Jawara, has successfully secured a $300,000 worth solar project for Bansang Hospital and 16 communities within the constituency.

The project which was sponsored by an unarmed philanthropist, was installed by a Gambian entrepreneur called Saul Njie of GreenLink Ltd. According to Dawda Jawara, the solar project will help the hospital attain its fundamental objectives as well as build its capacity to cater for the 600,000 patients it serves per annum.

The 250kw solar works are expected to generate D5.4 million per year from the sale of excess energy to National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC).

Mr Jawara said the project will additionally complement the government’s health sector (NHSSP 2018-2023) and energy sector. “With the tender rolled out by Nawec to electrify 270 communities across the country, the extra energy from the Bansang Hospital will help connect at least 16 new communities in my constituency, including Boraba,” he said.

He stated that when the philanthropist was initially approached for assistance, he asked that a collaboration with Nawec be secured for the sale of the excess power before accepting to go further with the project. “I later managed to broker a deal between Nawec and PowerUp Gambia. With this deal, Bansang Hospital will be an independent power producer (IPP) selling its excess energy to Nawec on a net metering scheme. We are forecasting potential earnings of about D5.4 million every year for the hospital,” He said.

SUSTAINABILITY

Mr. Jawara said in order to ensure efficacious sustainability, the project is coordinated and installed by a Gambian entrepreneur named Saul Njie, of Green Link Gambia LTD.

“He is a competent Gambian who has been overlooked over the years by the government. One example is the Kaur defunct solar project which was given to an Indian company which is still struggling to finalise the connections. This is why I have been advocating for us to have a local content act. Zambia has one,” he encouraged.

He added that Muhammad Jagana of J-Find wanted to fund a similar local content bill to make such projects but regrettably, it was unsuccessful. However, he promised that the law will be enacted when the United Democratic Party UDP comes into power. Mr Njie, the contractor, disclosed that 84kw of the 250kw has already been installed and will be commissioned soon.

“We will be installing a bi-directional metre for now so that during the day the hospital will supply to Nawec and the evening when the sun is down the hospital will draw power from Nawec,” he said.

Concluding, he said when Nawec fails completely, the hospital will be run by the reserve solar power batteries. “We will be monitoring the system on a daily basis to ensure efficiency and sustainability. We have a well maintained locally trained staff,”

 

By: Fatoumatta Samateh