Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has announced plans to introduce what it described as “temporary minimal load shedding” during the upcoming Ramadan and Lenten seasons, citing exceptionally high electricity demand that threatens the stability of the national grid.
In a press release issued to the public, the country’s sole electricity provider said the controlled outages are intended as a preventative measure to safeguard the overall system from more severe disruptions at a time when consumption patterns spike significantly.
“We understand the importance of this period for families, worship centres, and communities across the country,” the utility stated, adding that a daily load-shedding roster will be published to help consumers plan accordingly.
Seasonal Demand Exposes Structural Constraints
The announcement underscores the recurring vulnerability of The Gambia’s electricity sector during religious seasons, when power use intensifies due to extended nighttime activities, increased domestic cooking, lighting, and the operation of cooling appliances.
Ramadan, observed by Muslims through fasting during daylight hours, typically shifts household routines to late evening and early morning, placing heavier strain on generation capacity. Similarly, Christian communities observing Lent increase church-based activities, further adding to aggregate demand.
Rather than risk uncontrolled system failure, NAWEC’s decision to implement scheduled outages reflects a grid management strategy aimed at balancing supply and demand within existing generation limits.
However, such measures, even when described as “minimal,” reveal the narrow operating margin within which the national grid functions.
Managing Expectations While Protecting Grid Stability
By publishing a roster in advance, NAWEC appears to be attempting to mitigate public frustration and improve predictability, a shift from past unannounced outages that often disrupted households and businesses without warning.
The utility also issued an apology and appealed for public patience, signaling awareness of the sensitivity of electricity access during major religious observances.
However, the move inevitably raises broader questions about system resilience, particularly as electricity demand continues to grow with urban expansion, increased appliance ownership, and rising economic activity.
Persistent Reliability Challenges and Social, Economic Implications
While NAWEC has made periodic gains in expanding generation and stabilizing supply in recent years, peak-period shortages remain a recurring stress point. Seasonal load shedding has become an implicit indicator of the gap between installed capacity and actual peak demand requirements.
The announcement suggests that despite operational improvements, the system still relies heavily on careful load management during predictable consumption surges.
Electricity reliability carries heightened social importance during Ramadan and Lent, when power interruptions can disrupt religious observances, household routines, and small-scale commercial activity such as food preparation and nighttime trading.
NAWEC’s emphasis on “minimal” load shedding appears aimed at reassuring consumers that outages will be limited. Nonetheless, the measure highlights the continued balancing act between maintaining grid integrity and meeting public expectations for uninterrupted power.
The coming weeks will likely test both the utility’s operational planning and public tolerance, as one of the country’s most energy-intensive periods begins.
