1. BRIEFING ON THE
INTERCONNECTION LINES OF THE
GAMBIA RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT
(OMVG ENERGY PROJECT) BY
BAI LAMIN SILLAH
NATIONAL COORDINATOR

2. Outline Background Scope Energy Distribution Project statue
Project Cost
Challenges

3. Background
The purpose of the project is to supply clean energy at a competitive rate with a view to reducing energy deficits in Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.
The project will provide OMVG members States with a total installed capacity of 368 MW as well as 1,348 GWh of cheaper renewable energy per year, i.e. about 12.55% of their electric energy needs in 2020.

4. Background Cont.
It represents a building block in the power industry at the regional level and will contribute to the establishment of a vital regional power market through the gradual integration of isolated national grids into the WAPP’s unified regional interconnection system (the OMVG project is listed among WAPP priority projects).  

5. Background Cont.
This project once realized will enable the Gambia achieve Energy security and stability through;
Access to Energy from the OMVG dams (Kaleta 240MW , Suapiti 450MW and Sambangalou 128MW); and
Energy from WAPP member States since it will allow us to be connected to the West Africa Power Pool Transmission Network.

6. Background Cont.
The OMVG interconnection network, with an 800 MW transmission capacity, will be linked to the CLSG (Cote d’Ivoire-Liberia-Sierra Leone-Guinea) network as well as to that of the OMVS (Senegal River Basin Development Organisation).
This infrastructure will minimize power transmission costs of other potential hydroelectric sites of regional interest situated mainly in Guinea and hence promote their development.

7. Scope Interconnection Lines
The OMVG interconnection network will comprise the following structures:
the 225 kV interconnection line, with transit capacity of 800 MW looped over 1,677 km connecting the power grid of the OMVG Member States (1,453 km with a simple three-phase circuit with conductor cross-section of 2x570 mm² made from aluminium alloy (AAAC),
a 35-km double three-phase circuit with conductor cross-section of 2x570 mm² made from aluminium alloy (AAAC)

8. OMVG Interconnection Line

9. Scope Cont. Interconnection Lines
a 189-km double three-phase circuit with conductor cross-section of 2x228 mm², Angle Tower shall cover a ground area of 10x10m while aligned towers will cover a ground area 0f 6x6m
and
one of the ground wires will be fitted with fibre optics) , a right of way area extending 20m on each side, with no trees and housing. Is to be set up along the line.

10. Scope Cont. Soma Substation
The Soma substation is essentially a distribution substation connected to the 225 KV loop. Two 225/30KV power transformers, at a capacity of 15 MVA each.
It also serves to feed by antenna, the Brikama substation through a double circuit line of which only one circuit is used at a time, the second serving as a standby link.

11. Scope Cont. Brikama Substation
The Brikama substation is essentially a distribution substation antenna fed from the Soma substation. The supply at 225 KV is provided by a double circuit line of a length of about 161 Km.
Two 225/30 KV power transformers, of a capacity of 75 MVA each for the distribution

12. Scope Cont. Brikama Substation
It is to be noted however, that the two circuits will never be operated in parallel.
Only one circuit is used, whereas that other is in reserve in case of a failure or a mechanical breakdown on the circuit in use.

13. Distribution of Power from the Sambangalou Dam
 [14] % for Guinea Bissau ;
[20] % for Guinea;
[18] % for the Gambia;
and [48]% for Senegal

14. Distribution of Power from the Kaléta Dam
[4] % for Guinea Bissau;
[70] % for Guinea;
[6] % for the Gambia;
and [20]% for Senegal.

15. Breakdown of power per Country(MW)
Kaleta
Sambangalou
Suapiti
Total
The Gambia 14 23 33 70
Guinea
42+126 26
 N/A
194
Guinea Bissau 10 18 28
Senegal 48 61
109

16. Project statues
Works on the Kaleta Dam was completed and commissioned in September 2015
 Negotiation and Signing of Contracts for Lines
The total number of contracts for the lines and sub-stations, totaling 16 contracts, is now signed.
The last dispatch and SCADA contract awarded to Siemens SA / NV was signed on 29/05/2017.

17. Project statues LOT L6a - 225 kV ENERGY TRANSPORT TANAFF – SOMA LINES
Donor: IDA/WB
Builder: KEC International Limited
Total Amount in EUR: ,12
Budgeted amount in EUR: ,83
Gain in relation to the budget: ,71
in %: 15,76%
Percentage in advance: 10,00%
In the amount of EUR: ,01
Signature date:
Preparation of Tower Tests and FAT
Environmental and social aspects:
LIDAR: Overview completed

18. Project statues Cont.
LOT L6b kV ENERGY TRANSPORT SOMA – BIRKELANE LINES
Donor: KfW
Builder: KEC International Limit
Total Amount in EUR: ,73
Budgeted amount in EUR: ,32
Gain in relation to the budget: ,59
in %: 9,85%
Percentage in advance: 20,00%
In the amount of EUR: ,95
Signature date:
Preparation of Tower Tests and FAT
Environmental and social aspects:
LIDAR: Overview completed

19. Project statues Cont.
LOT L kV ENERGY TRANSPORT SOMA – BRIKAMA LINES
Donor: IDA/WB
Builder: VINCI ENERGIES and CEGELEC
Total Amount in EUR: ,52
Budgeted amount in EUR: ,19
Gain in relation to the budget: ,67
in %: 22,91%
Percentage in advance: 10,00%
In the amount of EUR: ,15
Signature date:
Environmental and social aspects:
LIDAR: Overview completed

20. Project statues Cont. LOT P2 - SOMA AND BRIKAMA STATIONS Donor: KFAED
Builder: EIFFAGE ENERGIE / ELECNOR
Total Amount in EUR: ,27
Budgeted amount in EUR: ,00
Gain in relation to the budget: ,73
in %: 15,93%
Percentage in advance: 20,00%
In the amount of EUR: ,25
Environmental and social aspects:
LIDAR: Overview completed

21. Breakdown of Cost for the Gambia
Component
Sub component
Cost estimates
Donor
Line
Gambia Backbone
$43,123,432
World Bank
Tanaf-Soma (Gambia Section)
$1,484,234
Soma-Birkelane
$6,301,143
KFW
Total lines
$50,908,810
Sub-stations
Soma
$13,531,904
Kuwaiti fund
Brikama
$26,177,140
Total Substations
$77,085,810

22. Project implementation schedule
The Sambangalou dam project is currently in the resource mobilization stage and funds are being sought for the construction following the signing with VINCI/ANDRITZ HYDRO consortium for the construction within a period of 42 months.
For the Interconnection Line, Contractors are now on the ground mobilising for the start of works. Vinci will the doing the Transmission line( Brikama to Soma) while Eiffage will built the two substations (Brikama and Soma Substations). Works to start soon for a period of 18 months.

23. The End
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION