Government Allocates D33.75 Million for Purchase of Energy-Generating Equipment in 2027 Estimates

By Yankuba Jallow

The allocation for energy-generating equipment is set to rise to D33.754 million in 2027, from D2.481 million in the approved 2026 budget, as a total appropriation of D48,599,453,916 is placed before the National Assembly for the 2027 financial year.

The proposed increase comes at a time when The Gambia has recently grappled with a serious power-generation crisis that resulted in long hours of electricity outages in several parts of the country.

The prolonged blackouts triggered nightly protests in Banjul, parts of the Kanifing Municipality and communities in the West Coast Region, as residents took to the streets to demand reliable electricity.

The protests followed prolonged power cuts that affected communities across the Greater Banjul Area and parts of the West Coast Region in September. Reuters reported that some outages lasted up to 48 hours in certain areas, while demonstrations were held on several nights over the electricity shortages.

In Banjul, residents staged a candlelight protest over the persistent outages, while demonstrations later spread to other communities in the Kanifing Municipality and the West Coast Region. The electricity problem has placed renewed attention on the country’s power-generation capacity as the government prepares its 2027 spending plans.

Against this background, the proposed allocation for energy-generating equipment has increased from D2.481 million in 2026 to D33.754 million in 2027, an increase of more than D31 million. The budget estimates show that D50 million was spent on energy-generating equipment in 2025, before the allocation fell sharply to D2.481 million in the approved 2026 budget. The proposed 2027 figure is D33.754 million.

The appropriation before the National Assembly is D48,599,453,916, covering the government’s proposed spending for the 2027 financial year.

The estimates contain allocations covering debt servicing, recurrent expenditure, development programmes, salaries and allowances, infrastructure, health, education, government operations and capital investment. The proposed increase in energy-generating equipment comes after a period of widespread electricity shortages that affected homes, businesses and communities.

NAWEC, the National Water and Electricity Company, had attributed the recent electricity shortages to increased demand and constraints affecting power supply. The utility company cited a surge in electricity demand during the hot season, with the country experiencing constraints on its electricity supply.

President Adama Barrow also announced plans to bring in new generators and complete the installation of an additional 24-megawatt generation unit, while a contract for a 50-megawatt solar plant was also announced. It is against this recent backdrop that the government has proposed a substantial increase in funding for energy-generating equipment. 

The 2027 appropriation before the National Assembly stands at D48,599,453,916. The budget estimates presented by the Minister of Finance distinguish between the 2025 actual expenditure, the 2026 approved budget and the 2027 estimates.

The wider figures contained in the estimates show total budget expenditure of D66.784 billion for 2027, compared with D59.361 billion in 2026 and D36.350 billion in 2025. The estimates state that this broader total comprises Government Local Fund, loans and grants.

The proposed appropriation before the Assembly is therefore presented separately from the broader aggregate figures contained in the budget estimates. National debt service is estimated at D59.237 billion in 2027, compared with D52.358 billion in 2026.

Debt interest alone is projected at D9.072 billion in 2027, compared with D6.899 billion in 2026. External debt interest is estimated at D1.382 billion, compared with D1.161 billion in 2026. Domestic debt interest is projected at D7.690 billion, compared with D5.738 billion in 2026. The estimates also put central government debt at D16.174 billion in 2027, compared with D13.459 billion in 2026 and D10.804 billion in 2025.

Interest payments have increased from D5.994 billion in 2025 to D6.899 billion in 2026 and are estimated at D9.072 billion in 2027. Total revenue and grants are estimated at D56.936 billion in 2027, compared with D50.287 billion in 2026.

Revenue is projected at D37.394 billion, compared with D32.203 billion in 2026. Tax revenue is estimated at D31.475 billion, up from D27.010 billion in 2026. Non-tax revenue is projected at D5.919 billion, compared with D5.193 billion in 2026.

Project grants are estimated at D15.971 billion, compared with D14.414 billion in 2026, while budget support is estimated at D3.571 billion, compared with D3.670 billion in 2026.

The Consolidated Revenue Fund is estimated at D40.965 billion in 2027, compared with D35.873 billion in 2026.

The revenue component of the fund is projected at D37.394 billion, including D31.475 billion in tax revenue and D5.919 billion in non-tax revenue.

Government development expenditure is estimated at D23.466 billion in 2027, compared with D20.729 billion approved for 2026 and D2 billion recorded in 2025.

Central government resources for development are estimated at D5.281 billion in 2027. Grants account for D15.971 billion, while loans are estimated at D2.214 billion.

Recurrent expenditure is projected at D27.144 billion in 2027, compared with D25.173 billion in 2026 and D23.545 billion in 2025. Capital expenditure on fixed assets is estimated at D3.794 billion in 2027, compared with D3.538 billion in 2026 and D2.167 billion in 2025. Within the capital budget, government residences and quarters are allocated D35 million, compared with D56.5 million in 2026. Construction of office buildings is estimated at D219.219 million, compared with D73.087 million in 2026. Schools, laboratories and facilities are allocated D22 million. Hospitals, clinics and health facilities receive an estimated D202.739 million, compared with D33.793 million in 2026. Military barracks, facilities and structures are allocated D500,000. Roads and bridges receive an estimated D1.370 billion, compared with D1.575 billion in 2026. Buildings and structures are allocated D150.5 million. Wells, boreholes, water points and reticulation are estimated at D12.669 million, compared with D130 million in 2026. Fish ponds and water-breeding facilities receive D7 million. The allocation for vehicles falls to D133.608 million, compared with D324.632 million in 2026.

But the allocation for energy generating equipment rises sharply to D33.754 million, from D2.481 million in 2026. The estimates also contain a separate allocation for the purchase of generators, which is put at D2.731 million for 2027, compared with D1.673 million in 2026 and D7.448 million in 2025. 

Compensation of employees is estimated at D11.214 billion in 2027, compared with D10.291 billion in 2026 and D9.566 billion in 2025. Wages and salaries account for D11.177 billion. Basic salary is estimated at D5.119 billion, while allowances account for D4.818 billion. The estimates also include allocations for medical services, school fees, responsibility allowances, car allowances, residential allowances, transport allowances, telephone allowances, sitting allowances, special allowances and social security contributions.

Overseas medical treatment is estimated at D85 million in 2027, compared with D20.5 million in 2026. The revolving loan scheme is estimated at D70 million, compared with D20 million in 2026. Social security contributions are projected at D36.606 million. General expenses are estimated at D5.300 billion in 2027, compared with D4.934 billion in 2026. Travel expenses are projected at D616.397 million. Presidential visits to the provinces are estimated at D40 million, compared with D50 million in 2026. Telecommunication expenses are projected at D120.129 million. Electricity, water and sewage costs are estimated at D347.241 million. Rents and rates are projected at D621.784 million, while fuel and lubricants are estimated at D466.214 million.

Vehicle maintenance is projected at D123.649 million, while maintenance of buildings and facilities is estimated at D210.547 million. Maintenance of equipment is allocated D46.304 million. The estimates also provide D186.961 million for conferences, workshops and seminars and D592.158 million for training.

Support for research and innovation is estimated at D30 million, the same amount provided in 2026. Support for tertiary and higher education is estimated at D40 million, compared with D50 million in 2026. The school improvement grant is estimated at D331.363 million, compared with D352.352 million in 2026. Support for differently able people rises from D4 million in 2026 to D4.2 million in 2027. The Women Enterprise Development Fund remains at D15 million, the same allocation provided in 2025 and 2026. The Constituency Development Fund is estimated at D29 million, maintaining the 2026 allocation. Climate change financing rises from D2 million in 2026 to D2.5 million in 2027. The contribution to the student loan scheme remains at D40 million. The 2027 estimates include D300 million for Ministries, Departments and Agencies arrears repayment. Payment for school bus services to the Gambia Transport Service Company is estimated at D68.111 million, compared with D39.097 million in 2026. National security operations are allocated D933,000. Operating costs are projected to fall from D825.695 million in 2026 to D495.051 million in 2027. Civil service reforms receive an estimated D12.890 million, compared with D3 million in 2026. The government also proposes D4.107 million for website maintenance in 2027, compared with D5.489 million in 2026 and D1.435 million in 2025.

Printing expenses are estimated at D106.037 million, consultancy at D463.099 million, research and development at D10.725 million and project evaluation and monitoring at D43.227 million. Food and food services are estimated at D578.578 million, while other general expenses are projected at D1.916 billion. Arbitration and court awards are estimated at D50.009 million, compared with D74.437 million in 2026. The government’s financing requirement is estimated at D2.301 billion in 2027, compared with D2.072 billion in 2026. Domestic borrowing is projected at D7.635 billion, compared with D7.618 billion in 2026. Foreign borrowing is estimated at D2.214 billion, compared with D1.456 billion in 2026. Foreign amortisation is estimated at D5.380 billion, while domestic amortisation is projected at D1.722 billion. The proposed 2027 budget therefore places a significantly higher allocation on energy-generating equipment at a time when electricity supply has been a major public concern. 

The increase comes after weeks of power shortages that affected communities and prompted protests in Banjul, the Kanifing Municipality and parts of the West Coast Region. The demonstrations brought the electricity crisis into the streets, with residents demanding more reliable power supply.

The 2027 estimates provide D33.754 million for energy generating equipment, compared with D2.481 million in the approved 2026 budget, while a separate D2.731 million is proposed for the purchase of generators under general expenses.

The total appropriation of D48,599,453,916 is now before the National Assembly for consideration as part of the government’s proposed expenditure for 2027.