Gambia buys two mega generators to deal with crippling power cuts

The Gambia on Monday received two new generators with a combined capacity of 21 megawatts to tackle a crippling electricity crisis in the tiny west African nation.

Since June, The Gambia has been reeling under prolonged blackouts, which have reached a fever pitch in recent weeks, right at the peak of the hot season and sparked widespread protests.

The generators, each with a capacity of 10.5 megawatts, arrived in the port of the capital Banjul from China, where they were bought.

"The provision of the generators is part of the solutions to electricity challenges faced. The government wants to install the capacity and part of the medium and long-term plan is to make sure that the issue of electricity is permanently fixed," Vice President Muhammed Jallow said.

The managing director of The Gambia's energy provider National Water and Electricity Corporation said the generators will be installed and commissioned by the end of the month.

"The machines have never been used, the only thing they need is to be installed," Gallo Saidy said.