The African Development Bank (ADB) Group has decided to support the development of integrated hydro-electric power in West Africa. River basins in the sub-region offer an opportunity for the development of the largely unexploited energy potential.

Hydropower would help end the persistent problems of power shortage and the heavy dependence on imported petroleum products for the production of electricity through the inter-connection of the sub-regional power grids.

In this perspective, the Board of Directors of the African Development Fund (ADF), the concessional window of the Bank Group approved in Tunis on Wednesday, a grant of 3.45 million Units of Account (UA*) equivalent to US$ 5.35 million, to finance a hydro-electric study for the benefit of the Gambia River Basin Development Organisation (OMVG) countries.

Specifically, the project involves detailed studies and the preparation of bidding documents for the Sambangalou and Kaléta Hydro-electric power schemes as well as the interconnection of the power grids of the countries concerned.

The main objective of the project is to strengthen cooperation and regional integration of OMVG member countries in the energy sector, and more particularly in the electricity sub-sector.

The realisation of these projects will among others help improve the living conditions of the population of the four countries by significantly improving access to electric power in urban areas as a result of an increase in supply and extension of networks, and in rural areas as a result of the use of sky wires for the electrification of localities along its corridor.

The OMVG, comprising The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal, was established in 1978. The organisation executes integrated development programmes of the member countries with regard to the rational and appropriate exploitation of the common resources of the Gambia, Kayanga-Géba and Koliba-Corubal river basins.