With a national electrification rate of an estimated 40 per cent and with certain rural areas having an electrification rate as low as 6 per cent, the time is ripe in The Gambia for the Rural Electrification with Renewable Energy (RE) Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA). A number of building blocks have already been put in place in the country. The 2013 Renewable Energy Act provides the framework for both on and off-grid renewable energy tariffs and net metering, as well as establishing a national RE Fund. There has been development of pilot renewable energy projects as well as diesel powered multi-function platforms, which provide energy access for economic activities in rural areas.

The NAMA has five key objectives which are:

1. Increase the level of renewable energy (for electricity) and contribute to the national long-term target of increasing the share of renewable energy within the power generation sector.

2. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the power generation sector.

3. Increase the rural population’s access to sustainable electricity.

4. Encourage an increase in rural community income generation, and improve rural livelihoods.

5. Increase the level of private sector participation within the power sector.

These objectives will be accomplished through a number of activities, divided into Phase 1 and Phase 2. Phase 1 activities will include the establishment of two types of ventures which will connect unelectrified rural communities: RE Community Energy Centres (RE-CEC) and RE Micro-Grids (RE-MGs). Phase 2 ventures will comprise RE systems which will displace thermal generation at existing regional grids (referred to as RE Displacement Systems—RE-DIS) and RE independent power producers (RE-IPPs).