A high-level delegation from the Gambia River Basin Development Organisation (OMVG), led by its High Commissioner Demba Jallow, visited the headquarters of the African Development Bank in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on 5 May 2025, to discuss ongoing regional development initiatives.
Established in 1978, OMVG is an inter-regional cooperation organization comprising The Gambia, Guinea, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau. Its mission is to promote the rational management of shared water resources in the Gambia, Kayanga-Géba, and Koliba-Corubal river basins.
Central to the discussions was the OMVG Energy Project, an €880 million investment co-funded by the African Development Bank Group and other donors. This project, nearing completion, has interconnected the four member countries through the construction of a 1,677 km, 225 kV transmission line with a transfer capacity of 800 MW.
The project includes the construction of 15 transformer stations and two dispatch centers located in Linsan (Guinea) and Tambacounda (Senegal). This infrastructure is now interconnected with the West African Power Pool (WAPP), significantly enhancing regional power integration.
Since late November 2023, all 14 continental West African countries have been interconnected in a single electricity grid, facilitating the exchange of renewable, clean, and affordable electricity. This achievement has not only bolstered regional cooperation but has also expanded access to sustainable energy across member states.
A key component of the project is the Sambangalou hydroelectric dam in Senegal. With a planned capacity of 128 MW, the dam is expected to generate 402 GWh annually. Construction is resuming, with gradual commissioning scheduled to begin in 2028.
Discussions also explored potential future partnerships in energy, agriculture, water and sanitation, transport, environment, and knowledge management — all areas aligned with the African Development Bank’s strategic priorities. OMVG officials presented the Integrated Development Master Plan (PDDI) and Joint Investment Plan (PIC), outlining new resource mobilization strategies.
A key event on the horizon is the Investment Forum scheduled for 16-17 June, 2025, in Dakar, Senegal, under the theme “Unleashing Regional Potential through Sustainable Investment.”
The visit underscored the African Development Bank’s continued commitment to supporting OMVG in implementing transformative projects that exemplify regional cooperation and integration.
Attendees included senior officials from the African Development Bank: Lamin Barrow, Director General for West Africa; Batchi Baldeh, Director of the Power Systems Department; Adama Moussa, Head of the Energy Operations Division for West Africa; and Jeanne-Astrid Ngako de Foki, Head of the Water and Sanitation Division for West Africa.
From OMVG, the delegation included Demba Jallow, High Commissioner; Ousmane Hane, Secretary General; Ebrima Sanyang, Director of Environment and Sustainable Development; and Fatou Kiné Ndiaye Samba, Head of the Finance Division.
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