The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Amadou Jallow
9 July 2009
Concern Universal (CU), yesterday, commenced a two-day community driven Alternative Energy Forum. It was held at The Gambia Is Good (GIG) farmyard in Yundum.
The forum is designed for CU and partners as well as other relevant stakeholders to discuss, identify and design prospective actions that need to be taken to appropriately deal with the negative impacts of climate change in The Gambia. It involves local organizations, government officials and consultants, as well as experts in the related fields and the CU project managers.
In view of the fact that energy constitutes a key component within the development context of The Gambia, Concern Universal, through its expertise, past experience and significant connection within local communities stands ready to work with its partners in forming community driven activities based on the prevention, adaptation and mitigation of the negative impact of climate change.
It is anticipated that the forum will provide clear areas of focus within communities, and identify activities to be implemented and guidelines for these future projects within CU and its partners. Presenting a paper on the 'National Energy Policy: opportunities and challenges to address climate change', Bah FM Saho, director of Energy at the ministry of Energy, said The Gambia's resource base is modest, with fire wood, petroleum products as well as electricity and renewable energy as the main sources of fuel. According to him, fire wood forms the principal source of energy in The Gambia, constituting up to 80% of the total energy consumed between 1996 and 2008, but he was quick to add that fire wood has over the years posed some negative implications to the country's environment, ranging from the natural forest and GHG emission and other associated health risks.
The second most important energy resource, Saho continued, are the petroleum products that account for about 16% of the total consumed. All petroleum products (including LPG), he said, are imported and their use affects the environment. Saho then informed the gathering that the effects of energy consumption on the environment can led to deforestation, which can increase and promote desertification, drought and even erosion as well as low rainfall and fewer trees.
He went on to say that the Government of The Gambia has already taken steps of intervention by designing policies and strategies aimed at curbing the menace of environmental degradation. The aim of government, he said, is for the energy sector to maximise the efficient development and utilisation of the scarce energy resources to support economic development and poverty eradication in an environment-friendly way.
Saho then used the platform to commend Concern Universal for organising the forum, saying, "It will contribute to the efficient use of the country's available fuel resources." Patricia Wall, country director of Concern Universal (Gambia-Senegal), expressed gratitude about the way the forum was conducted. She hoped that at the end of the forum, participants would come up with a concrete and tangible resolution on the effective and efficient use of available energy in the country.
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Alternative energy! Yes! You have lots of Typha, and that's what it is good for! Charcoal, fuel gas, and ethanol are all readily produced from the Typha that causes so many troubles around you. If you harvest it aggressively enough to actually deplete it, you will have a better water balance. Aquatic weeds are dessication machines. If you can't harvest it fast enough to deplete it, you have an inexhaustible fuel resource. Start the process of liberating your continent from thirst. Clear your weeds for fuel. Dredge out the silt/soil they have left behind to restore streams and lakes to their beds. Use that silt to reclaim soil or fight coastal erosion.