NAWEC Seeks Consultancy to Update Resettlement Plan for Gambia’s $50M Regional Solar Park Project

The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) of The Gambia has announced a call for consultancy firms to update the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the Regional Solar Park in The Gambia (RSPG). This initiative is part of the World Bank-backed RSPG project, which will include solar power and battery energy storage systems (BESS) awarded through competitive bidding.

The first phase of the project involves the financing, construction, and operation of a 50 MW solar plant and 18 MWh of BESS. While the RAP for the project was approved in March 2023, it has not yet been implemented. The selected consultancy firm will be tasked with evaluating, modifying, and updating the RAP to ensure that the sites for the first phase are ready for transfer to the independent power producers selected through the upcoming auction.

Consultants applying for the tender must have a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience. The selected firm will have eight weeks to update the RAP and an additional six months to implement it. Expressions of interest are due by January 31, 2025.

The Gambia, which had only 2 MW of installed solar capacity by the end of 2023, commissioned its first utility-scale solar plant in March 2024. The 23 MW plant, located near the west coast, is expected to contribute significantly to the country’s renewable energy goals.