Africa’s Gambia Launches Solar PV Tender

• SESCO is looking for bidders to set up solar power systems for 1,000 schools and 99 health facilities  
• System sizes to be installed will vary from 2 kW to 100 kW, spread across various regions  
• Proceeds from the EIB backed GSEP project will be used to make payments for the solar tender  

The Gambia Sustainable Energy Services Company (SESCO) has invited bids from interested companies for the installation of solar power plants, in on-grid and off-grid configurations, to power up to 1,000 schools and 99 health facilities, including 11 large hospitals. 

Bids are invited for the following 4 lots for which the winner will also need to provide operation and maintenance (O&M) services for 60 months, that can be extended by another 5 years:  

• Lot 1: 240 kWh/100 kW PV solar energy systems need to be installed for each of the 11 large hospitals 
• Lot 2: 10 kWh to 60 kWh/ 4 kW to 24 kW PV solar energy systems for each of 88 health facilities 
• Lot 3: 5 kWh to 10 kWh/ 2 kW to 4 kW PV solar energy systems per site for 548 schools in Western, North Bank and Banjul regions 
• Lot 4: 5 kWh to 10 kWh/ 2 kW to 4 kW PV solar energy systems for each of the 452 schools in Lower River, Central River, and Upper River regions. 

SESCO says for now only 429 schools have been nominated in Lot 3 while in Lot 4 the number is 394 schools. Broad scope of work spans design, supply, installation and O&M of the solar power systems installed.   

To make payments for this project, SESCO plans to use proceeds from the European Investment Bank (EIB) funding, covering the cost of the Gambia Sustainable Energy Project (GSEP) within the Gambia Renewable Energy Framework.    

In March 2023, the European Union (EU) announced a €24.8 million EU Global Gateway Grant for Gambia, along with an €8 million EIB loan for the African nation to implement a renewable energy on- and off-grid generation, transmission and distribution program across the country for over 1,000 schools and 100 health centers.   

Jointly owned by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA) and the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (MoPE), SESCO was established to implement this project.  

Details of the call issued on August 11, 2023 are available on TED, the public procurement portal of the European Union (EU). The last date to submit bids is October 31, 2023.