The Gambia River Basin Development Organisation (OMVG) is to implement new hydroelectric projects in Senegal and Guinea in an effort to reduce local power shortages.

A hydroelectric study for the benefit of OMVG is to be launched, with the aid of a US$5.35M grant from the Tunis-based African Development Fund (ADF). The ‘Multinational Electric Power Grids’ project aims to develop the region’s largely unexploited energy potential, and leave it less dependent on petrol.

Two large dams are planned: the first located in Sambangalou, a village in southern Senegal at the river Gambia, the second at Kaléta, on the Konkouré river, central Guinea. The Sambangalou alone will have a capacity of 400GWh.

Along with the hydro plants, the project will feature a regional integration of power grids in the OMVG’s four member countries, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal.