Yemisi Izuora
Dangote Group is providing huge funding backing to accelerate Gambia’s energy transition.
The Gambia is likely to secure a major boost to its energy transition and infrastructure investment after Aliko Dangote, president and CEO of Dangote Group, pledged to finance two strategic projects worth a combined $2 billion.
These include a 250 MW solar power plant and a modern petroleum products storage terminal.
President Adama Barrow announced the commitment on July , following a meeting with Dangote in Banjul on the sidelines of the 2026 African Caucus meetings.
For now, the agreement remains a preliminary commitment. Both sides still need to finalize binding agreements, complete technical and feasibility studies, and establish the structures that will oversee implementation. No construction timeline or funding breakdown between the two projects has been disclosed.
The significance of the announcement becomes clearer when viewed against the backdrop of Gambia’s energy sector. The country has between 90 MW and 99 MW of installed electricity capacity, but only part of that capacity is currently available. As of early 2025, operational capacity had fallen below 40 MW because of aging infrastructure, equipment supply constraints, and the financial difficulties facing the state-owned utility NAWEC.
Those weaknesses have left The Gambia heavily dependent on imported electricity. During the first quarter of 2025, imports accounted for 57% of the country’s power consumption, with most electricity supplied by Senegal and Guinea.
Against that backdrop, Dangote’s proposed 250 MW solar plant would mark a dramatic shift.
The project alone would exceed the country’s largest solar program currently under development the 150 MW Soma project, scheduled to be built in two phases by 2030. It would also provide more than twice the electricity currently available on Gambia’s grid.
The investment also aligns with the government’s long-term energy strategy. The Gambia has an estimated solar potential of 428 MW and aims to increase the share of renewable energy in its electricity mix, including imported power, from 13 per cent in 2024 to 30 per cent by 2030.
Dangote’s commitment comes as Banjul is actively seeking greater private investment in the energy sector. The country’s energy roadmap estimates investment needs of $552 million through 2030, including $247 million expected from private investors. The announced investment would therefore far exceed that private capital target.
The second part of the partnership addresses another strategic priority: strengthening fuel security. The planned petroleum storage terminal would expand the country’s storage capacity, reduce the risk of fuel supply disruptions, and improve stability in the domestic fuel market.
Significant challenges remain before these plans become operational infrastructure. Integrating a solar facility of this scale will require major upgrades to the national transmission network, which the government has already identified as a priority. NAWEC’s financial position also remains a concern after the utility posted a negative net margin of 28 per cent in 2024.
The announcement nevertheless marks an important step for Gambia’s energy strategy. Its long-term impact will depend on whether the government and Dangote Group can convert this initial commitment into fully financed, completed, and sustainably integrated energy infrastructure.