By Anna Valentine
The Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines (MoPEM), in partnership with the Africa Energy Commission (AFREC), held a validation workshop for the draft National Deep Decarbonization Pathway (NDDP).
The NDDP is developed within the broader continental framework of the African Union’s Energy Transition Strategy and Action Plan (ETSAP) with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and STANTEC as the consulting firm.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Mr Lamin Camara, in his opening remarks stated, “The draft NDDP before us is not another study, it is a governance instrument or a strategic plan that has been designed to transform our energy systems to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while supporting sustainable economic growth and development”.
Mr PS Camara further explained that the pathways span a time horizon of up to 2063, congruent with the AU’s Agenda 2063. He said the it is structured in three phases: first the short-term (2025-2030), targeting quick wins and enabling policies; second, the medium term (2031-2040), focusing on scaling technologies institutional reforms; and last, the long term (2041-2050) but with projections to 2063 for consistency with the other countries, emphasizing net zero readiness and regional integration.
The Deep Decarbonization Pathways is more than an emission ledger; it affirms the Gambia’s striving in shaping a low-carbon future attuned to the development priorities rather than imported prescriptions.
