The Gambian Ministry of Energy, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Thursday kick started a nationwide sensitization campaign on energy efficiency and conservation, at a ceremony held at the Kanifing Municipal Council grounds outside Banjul.
The program, dubbed ’Campaign 2009-11’ is being funded by UNDP Support to Environment and Energy Sector for Attainment of MDGs and PRSP project and the Ministry is the implementing partner.
In his opening statement, the Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) Yankuba Colley, said that to sensitize the public now is timely and important as energy conservation was no longer a luxury but a necessity.
According to Colley, the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), has maintained a steady increase of its energy generation capacity over the past years coupled with improvements on the existing service and connection lines. He hailed the UNDP and the ministry of Energy and collaboration partners for launching the campaign.
Reading a statement on behalf of the Minister of Energy, Mr. Baboucarr Jalllow, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Employment said that the proper use of electricity will save a lot for heads of households and institutions.
. “Electricity is the most convenient form of energy because it can be used to power all forms of demand like water pumping, factories and production plants, as well as transportation.
“It is therefore the engine that drives the economy – an engine of growth,” he said.
He explained that the overall objective of the government’s energy policy is the provision of reliable, efficient and least costly energy services to the entire population.
Jallow also said that, in the Gambia electricity is produced from oil based products such as heavy fuel oil and diesel, adding that the government had adopted a policy to promote energy efficiency and conservation under the Ministry of Energy.
Energy efficiency and conservation, he said is a fundamental component in the Ministry’s strategy to provide every Gambian access to energy services including electricity. He explained that in 2008, the cabinet approved a national energy efficiency policy to encourage utilization of efficient energy devices and agreed to waive taxes on compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs and other renewable energy technologies
Speaking on behalf of UNDP, Dr. Almammy Camara, said that the national sensitization campaign will be extended to all the regions of the country. He stated that energy was important and the government aims to improve on the availability of its electricity supply as it is the responsibility of the government to provide electricity that is reliable and efficient to its citizens.
He said the UNDP was financing the campaign to raise awareness about energy efficiency and conservation.
Source African Press Agency
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