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NAWEC arrears:
How much does The Gambia owe for electricity?

Documents show substantial outstanding obligations to regional electricity suppliers — while public funds continue to be used to settle NAWEC-related arrears.

US$24.9M

Requested for arrears settlement

Source verified10 Sep 2026

Primary document — NAWEC letter

US$44M

SENELEC + EDG arrears reported by the IMF

Source verified2026

IMF report

D1.2BN

Paid to SENELEC on behalf of NAWEC

Source verified2024

Government document — MoFEA Annual Review

These figures relate to different dates and sources. They must not be added together.

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Primary document

NAWEC letter, 10 September 2026

Primary document — verifiedRef NAWEC/MOFEA/VOL.XV(6)

Request for Payment of Outstanding Arrears under the World Bank-Funded Contingent Emergency Response Project (CERP)

From
NAWEC
To
Ministry of Finance (MoFEA)
Date
10 Sep 2026
Type
Official letter

NAWEC informed the Ministry of Finance that US$24,900,000 had been made available under the World Bank-funded CERP for settlement of outstanding arrears owed to regional power-sector partners and service providers.

The document demonstrates a request for disbursement/allocation. It should NOT automatically be interpreted as proof that all listed amounts had already been paid.

What does the IMF say?

US$44M

Reported arrears to SENELEC and EDG

The IMF reported that NAWEC's investment in bringing domestic generation capacity back online had contributed to arrear accumulation with SENELEC and EDG of approximately US$44 million.

IMF report — verified2026

IMF 2026 Article IV Consultation / Fifth Review

Public money used to settle NAWEC obligations

D1.2BN

Paid to SENELEC on behalf of NAWEC

The Ministry of Finance's 2024 Annual Review records a D1.2 billion payment to SENELEC on behalf of NAWEC, and identifies NAWEC-related fiscal risks.

Government document — verified2024

MoFEA Annual Review 2024 (PDF)

What does the government say?

What NAWEC says

Timeline

How the arrears figures appeared

  1. 2024

    Energy Minister disclosed NAWEC owed SENELEC more than CFA10 billion (approx. D1.26bn), covering three months of unpaid invoices.

    Reported figureThe Point

  2. 2024

    Ministry of Finance annual review recorded D1.2 billion paid to SENELEC on behalf of NAWEC.

    Government documentMoFEA Annual Review 2024

  3. 2026

    IMF reported approximately US$44 million in arrears accumulated with SENELEC and EDG.

    IMF findingIMF

  4. 10 Sep 2026

    NAWEC letter requested disbursement of US$24.9 million under CERP for outstanding arrears.

    Primary documentNAWEC/MOFEA/VOL.XV(6)

These figures relate to different dates and should NOT simply be added together.

Money trail

Obligations and payments, as documented

Currency conversions are approximate and depend on the exchange rate used. Original currencies should always be displayed alongside converted figures.

Has the debt been cleared?

Has NAWEC cleared its arrears?

Status: not established as fully cleared

Available evidence shows substantial arrears continued to exist in 2026. It also shows that payments were being made and additional funds were being allocated or requested for arrears settlement.

NAWEC has acknowledged outstanding balances and says payments are continuing. What has not been published is how much of the September 2026 request has actually been transferred, and what remains owed to each supplier.

Context

Why did these arrears accumulate?

Possible contributing factors. Each is shown with its source; factors without a source are not yet established for this page.

  • Investment in bringing domestic generation back online

    IMF 2026

  • Electricity import costs

    Source pending verification

  • Foreign exchange movements

    Source pending verification

  • Tariff / cost-recovery gaps

    Source pending verification

  • Karpowership-related costs

    Source pending verification

  • Technical and commercial losses

    Source pending verification

  • Cash-flow constraints

    Source pending verification

  • Increased reliance on regional electricity imports

    Source pending verification

NAWEC disputes claims that outstanding arrears are responsible for recent electricity supply reductions.

Accountability

Questions taxpayers deserve answers to

  1. 01What is NAWEC's current total arrears?
  2. 02How much is owed to SENELEC?
  3. 03How much is owed to EDG?
  4. 04How much is owed to other suppliers/service providers?
  5. 05How much of the US$24.9m CERP allocation has actually been disbursed?
  6. 06How much has been paid to SENELEC?
  7. 07How much has been paid to EDG?
  8. 08What remains outstanding?
  9. 09How much has the Government paid on behalf of NAWEC since 2017?
  10. 10Why has NAWEC continued accumulating arrears?
  11. 11What is the plan for achieving cost recovery?
  12. 12What is the total cost of imported electricity?
  13. 13What are the contractual payment terms?
  14. 14Are payment plans in place?
  15. 15Have any suppliers invoked guarantees?
  16. 16What recommendations have audits and development partners made?
  17. 17What is the timetable for clearing verified arrears?

Public money, public priorities

How are scarce resources prioritised?

The existence of substantial NAWEC arrears raises a legitimate public-finance question: how are scarce public resources being prioritised between electricity-sector obligations, debt servicing, subsidies, development projects and other government expenditures?

Meet the People Tour expenditure →OIC-related expenditure →Public debt →Karpowership →Electricity crisis →Follow the Money →

The question is not only how much NAWEC owes

How much has been paid, how much remains, who is accountable, and what is the plan to prevent the arrears from returning?

Don't take our word for it. Examine the documents. Follow the money. Check the record.