DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOR TOURISM AND
CULTURE, BANJUL, THE GAMBIA
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
THE GAMBIA TOURISM DEVELOPMENT MASTER
PLAN
TECHNICAL REPORT No. 15
TOURISM RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY......................................................................................... 1
1.
CONTEXT ...................................................................................................... 5
1.1
Introduction ............................................................................................ 5
1.2
Methodology and Scope of Work ......................................................... 5
2.
SITUATION ANALYSIS AND SECTOR RECOMMENDATIONS .................. 7
2.1
Tourism Impacts .................................................................................... 7
2.2
Institutional Settings.............................................................................. 7
2.3
Information Needs................................................................................ 11
2.4
Electricity .............................................................................................. 11
2.5
Water Supply ........................................................................................ 16
2.6
Liquid Waste Management .................................................................. 19
2.7
Solid Waste Management .................................................................... 22
2.8
Roads and Transportation .................................................................. 24
2.9
Telecommunications ........................................................................... 26
3.
FUTURE TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS ...................... 28
3.1
Future Scenarios .................................................................................. 28
3.2
Servicing the Ten Tourist Areas ......................................................... 28
3.3
Institutional Recommendations .......................................................... 29
3.4
Suggested Levels of Service and Standards ..................................... 29
3.5
Unit Costs ............................................................................................. 30
4.
IMMEDIATE ACTION PLAN ........................................................................ 31
4.1
Introduction .......................................................................................... 31
4.2
Kotu Stream Protection Programme .................................................. 31
4.3
Green Tourism Programme ................................................................. 33
4.4
Financing Tourism Infrastructure ....................................................... 34
ANNEX A - INFRASTRUCTURE DATA ............................................................... 35
ANNEX B– PROPOSED NATIONAL ROADS UPGRADING PROGRAMME (As
at 2004) ................................................................................................................. 36
Technical Report No. 15 – Tourism Related Infrastructure
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This Technical Report comprises the infrastructure review for the Gambia Tourism
Development Master Plan (TDMP). It covers water and electricity supply, waste
management, transportation and roads.
The report aims to:
 Assess water and electricity resources and waste management capacities in
order to identify any constraints to the tourism sector;
 Assess availability of off-site infrastructure for the tourism sector;
 Identify any key infrastructure-related environmental issues that might impact
on tourism;
 Recommend actions for the tourism sector for infrastructure provision and
service delivery;
 Outline infrastructure needs for the proposed inland tourist development areas,
 Suggest levels of service and standards for tourism infrastructure and develop
unit costs for off-site infrastructure to assist in the development of future
planning scenarios;
 Identify programmes and high priority projects for short-term implementation.
The main tourism area is adjacent to the Greater Banjul Area, which now contains
around 50% of The Gambia’s population. Therefore, tourist infrastructure
demands, even if they were to substantially increase, are still marginal compared
to the overall resource demands of this rapidly growing urban area. The
challenge government faces is to manage this urban growth while
maintaining an environment suitable for tourism.
A summary of the status, issues and recommendations for each sector is
contained in the table below (Tourism Related Infrastructure – Sector Summary).
The major challenge is electricity generation and, to a much lesser extent, waste
management.
Water resources, electricity transmission, roads and
telecommunications are all more than adequate for an expanded tourism sector in
the Greater Banjul Area. The main issue with inland tourism is providing
reasonably quick and comfortable access for tourists. The ongoing roads
programme will assist in resolving this issue, particularly along the South Bank of
the River Gambia.
The lack of electricity generation is not only impacting adversely on the tourism
sector, but on all other sectors of The Gambia’s economy.
Technical Report No. 15 – Tourism Related Infrastructure
1
Tourism Related Infrastructure – Sector Summary
Sector
Overall Status
Tourism Status
Electricity
 Critical and deteriorating  Hotels need to provide
generation capacity.
their own power.
Current outputs meet
 May be cheaper for
25% of demand.
hotels to generate own
electricity.
 Transmission grid
updated and can meet
 Serious risk of sea
both local and tourist
pollution from oil spills
demands.
at Kotu Power Station
Proposals
 Privatisation proposed but
needs legislation as
NAWEC currently only
authority to retail electricity.
Draft Electricity bill under
preparation.
 New power station at
Brikama proposed in future.
Water Supply  Resource not a
 NAWEC supply
 Ring main to supply TDA
constraint, issue with
insufficient for hotels.
from Sanyang to Fajara;
power to pump and
Supplemented by power
also smaller ring from Kotu.
distribute water.
borewells.
 25-year Water and
Sanitation Master Plan
 TDA (Kololi area) served  May be cheaper for
by Kotu tank, which is
hotels to pump their own
under preparation by
not large enough to meet
water.
NAWEC to identify and
demands.
prioritise projects.
 Issue of borewells too
close to the sea.




Technical Report No. 15 – Tourism Related Infrastructure
2
Recommendations
 Hotels to continue to provide
own power.
 Investigate potential
Independent Power Plant for
TDA power.
 Reduce demand through
savings and solar power.
 Reduce transmission losses
and theft.
 Prevent oil spills at Kotu
Power Plant.
 Hotels need to continue to
provide own supply.
 Reduce demand as part of
Green Hotel Program.
 Investigate (pilot) the use of
HDPE pipe.
Sector
Wastewater
(Sanitation)
Overall Status
 Only Banjul and TDA
covered; other areas onsite disposal.
 Stormwater drainage
becoming a major
problem in urbanising
Serrekunda.
Solid Waste



Roads and
Transportation



Telecommunications

Tourism Status
 Kotu WWTP not
functioning well and
polluting Kotu Stream.
Issue of sludge being
deposited in ponds.
 NAWEC charges do not
seem to cover costs.
 Only a few hotels
connected, other hotels
use septic tanks.
 GTA arrange for
contractor to collect
from hotels. No
payment to local
authorities for dumping.
Poor collection
efficiency.
Existing sites at Mile 2
and Bakoteh
environmental hazards.
Uncollected waste
aggravates drainage and
health problems.
Inadequate roads in

most urban areas.
Lack of funds for road

maintenance
Poor road conditions to
inland areas.
Full coverage of GSM

mobile and land line
phones. Current
capacity is beyond likely
demand.
Good roads in tourist
areas and to airport.
Access to inland tourist
sites time consuming
and uncomfortable.
Proposals
Recommendations
 Water and Sanitation Master  Rehabilitate Kotu wastewater
Plan will develop overall
treatment plant and extend to
proposals.
other areas.
 Possible plant operation by
private sector.
 Include stormwater drainage
with sewerage planning in
Serrekunda
 Need to protect beach erosion
from stormwater.
 Temporary upgrading of
 Waste minimisation
Mile 2 and Bakoteh sites to
programme for hotels.
landfill while new sanitary  Investigate potential for
landfill is developed near
hotels to keep beach clean.
Brikama. Eventual closure
of Mile 2 and Bakoteh.
 Improved recycling and
composting.
 Upgrading of main South
 Access road between Bijilo
Bank road.
and Brufut required.
 Use concrete roads in coastal
areas prone to flooding.
Full coverage of GSM

mobile and land line
phones. Current
capacity is beyond likely
demand.
Technical Report No. 15 – Tourism Related Infrastructure
Planned countrywide
expansion for landlines.
3

Improve international lines,
particularly for internet
access.
The main programmes identified are:
 Kotu Stream Protection Programme which aims to prevent pollution in Kotu
stream and to the sea. This comprises:
 Clean-up and closure of Bakoteh solid waste dump. This is already
designed and will be assisted through World Bank funding.
 Rehabilitation of Kotu Wastewater treatment Plant (WWTP), possibly
include this as a priority project under the Water Supply and
Sanitation Master Plan being prepared by NAWEC.
 Prevention of oil spills from Kotu Power Plant. A feasibility study is
required to determine the optimal physical and operational
interventions and costs.
 A Green Hotel Programme to minimise tourism demand on resources and
protect the tourism environment.
 Other tourism infrastructure, which will also benefit the local population,
such, as provision of back-up generators at NAWEC’s borewells and the
construction of additional water storage tank at Kotu.
Technical Report No. 15 – Tourism Related Infrastructure
4
1.
CONTEXT
1.1
Introduction
This report comprises the infrastructure review for The Gambia Tourism
Development Master Plan (TDMP). It contains an assessment of the
infrastructure and services required to meet existing and future tourism
demands. Included is a review of water resources and water supply,
roads and transportation, solid and liquid waste management, and
electricity.
Air access and airport related infrastructure has been
covered by the Air Access Report (TR2). Similarly, while this report
covers issues with solid and liquid waste management, specific
environmental aspects have been dealt with by the Environmental
Report. (TR10)
Unless specifically requested and appreciated, such as staying at an
eco-tourist lodge, tourists expect and require sufficient and reliable
infrastructure in and around their tourism area. At the very least this
requires adequate and failsafe water and power supply and effective
waste management at their accommodation. If tourist visits are to be
promoted to aesthetic or cultural sites in the country, access should be
relatively effortless and not too physically demanding. A lack of water or
power, or an extremely unpleasant environment caused by poor waste
management in the tourism area, will most likely result in substantially
reduced tourist numbers.
1.2
Methodology and Scope of Work
The methodology to carrying out the scope of work has been mainly
through a substantive series of meetings with government departments,
para-statal organisations (Government owned companies), local
governments, private sector representatives and donor institutions
involved in infrastructure provision and tourism in The Gambia.
Site visits to key infrastructure sites, such as Kotu Power Plant, Kotu
Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and Bakoteh Solid Waste Dumpsite were also undertaken. Field visits were also made to potential
tourism sites along the Southwest coast and inland.
Generally, discussions at the meetings focused on: (a) the institutional
remit of the agency; (b) key issues with regard to their infrastructure
sector; and (c) ongoing and proposed projects. Reports, plans and
drawings available with these agencies were reviewed to assess
integration with tourism requirements.
Existing tourism related infrastructure was analysed, particularly to
determine any resource thresholds with regard to:
 the physical availability of water and electricity;
 visual and environmental impact of waste management; and
Technical Report No. 15 – Tourism Related Infrastructure
5
 access to tourism sites.
This has been based upon an assessment of existing tourism numbers,
local populations and infrastructure and service coverage. Rather than
precisely define future infrastructure requirements, the approach has
been to provide a more flexible response to resource availability and
service provision. Importantly, the tourism sector, including the
Government agencies involved, has to be able to guide and meet
the infrastructure requirements of the tourism sector whatever
scenario occurs. To assist in this guidelines for standards and levels of
service have been prepared along with unit costs. Immediate action
plans have also been developed for high priority interventions.
This introductory section establishes the background and aims of the
report. Section Two contains the situational analysis, which provides a
description of the existing infrastructure and service conditions, key
issues and proposed projects for each service sector. This also entails a
review of technical, financial and institutional issues. The Third Section
outlines the potential infrastructure requirements for the proposed ten
tourist areas suggested by the TDMP Physical Planner (TR 5). To assist
the Physical Planner and Product Development Specialist estimate future
tourism investment requirements, levels of service and standards for
tourism related infrastructure have been suggested and unit costs
developed for necessary off-site infrastructure requirements.
As it is important that the TDMP can move quickly towards
implementation, the final section identifies key programmes and suggests
some immediate actions which can be undertaken to improve services
and protect tourism infrastructure. It also proposes longer term plans,
which can be implemented as funds become available. The report is
also supported by annexes, which are referred to in the text.
Technical Report No. 15 – Tourism Related Infrastructure
6
2.
SITUATION ANALYSIS AND SECTOR RECOMMENDATIONS
2.1
Tourism Impacts
The main area which is influenced by tourism is a 15 kilometre strip of
the West Coast from Cape Point to Brufut termed as the Greater Banjul
Area (GBA) comprising Banjul and Kanifing Municipalities and part of
Brikama Area Council. This area is the most densely populated and
urbanised part of the country. Preliminary results for the 2003 Census
show that for the GBA plus Kombos North, South and Central now
contains around 670,000 people. This accounts for 50 % of The
Gambia’s population.
The Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) estimate that there are around
6,500 hotel beds in this area. Per capita consumption of resources by
tourists is very much higher than that of the local population.
Consequently, each tourist produces much more waste. However, with
hotel capacity at one per cent of the local population, most tourism
infrastructure demands are a small increment of the needs of the whole
GBA. While the population of Banjul is falling, there is rapid growth in the
other areas with annual growth averaging 4.5% per annum over the last
decade. With this growth expected to continue, even if the number
of tourist beds was to substantially increase, the challenge facing
Government is to meet the ever increasing local demands and
ensure the tourism assets of beach and sea are not overwhelmed
by unmanaged urban growth.
As the tourism area is lying so close to the country’s largest urban area, it
is difficult to separate the off-site infrastructure for tourist and non-tourist
related demands. However, the Tourism Development Area (TDA), an
800 metre deep coastal trip running southwards from Kotu Stream to the
Senegal Border, is the area proposed for new tourist development, and
tourist-related infrastructure will be required in this area.
With the development of existing and proposed upcountry sites for
tourism, there is a need to first create or improve access to these areas
while providing accommodation with service levels compatible with
tourists’ expectations. A full description of these areas is provided in the
Physical Planning report (TR5).
2.2
Institutional Settings
Responsibility for providing infrastructure and services lies with both
central and local governments. Recognising the critical importance of the
key sectors of water and power, these sectors now come directly under
the Office of the President.
The Government’s decentralisation process aims to provide more local
level responsibility for service delivery. However, the municipalities and
area councils require additional resources to allow them to effectively do
Technical Report No. 15 – Tourism Related Infrastructure
7
this, and many decentralised activities, such as physical planning, are
still carried out centrally. The Government has also established a number
of para-statal organisations. These companies are ultimately wholly
owned by the Government.
Gambia Tourism Authority, the National Water and Electricity Company
(NAWEC),
Gambia
Ports
Authority
(GPA)
and
Gambia
Telecommunications Company Limited (Gamtel) are established
companies. Government acts establishing a Roads and Technical
Services Authority and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA)
were passed in 2003, but these Authorities are not yet effective. PURA
will regulate the electricity, urban water supply and telecommunications
sectors. A Solid Waste Management Authority is also proposed.
The Government has enacted a law establishing The Gambia Divestiture
Agency (GDA) to facilitate private sector involvement in the many public
enterprises. There are two types of Government Companies. Track One
companies are those which are of key importance to the economy and
require legislation and regulatory support to be divested. Track Two
companies represent other government investments which can be sold
without legislation. While most of the key infrastructure companies come
under track two, their privatisation should provide substantial
opportunities for the tourism sector.
Table 2.1 below provides a summary of the institutional responsibilities
for infrastructure and service provision in The Gambia.
Table 2.1
Sector
Infrastructure Responsibilities
Planning
Standards
Design
Construction
O&M
Remarks
1. Power Supply
Generation
Transmission
Tariff Collection
Directorate
of Energy
National Water and Electricity Company
(NAWEC)
Both agencies come
directly under the
President’s Office
2. Water Resources
Ground water
resources
Surface water
resources
Flood protection
Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR)
Technical Report No. 15 – Tourism Related Infrastructure
GPA monitor tidal
data.
8
Sector
Planning
Standards
Design
Construction
O&M
Remarks
3. Urban Water Supply
Extraction and
treatment
Transmission
Storage
Distribution & user
supply
Tariff collection
National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC)
Water and electricity
are billed together
4. Rural Water Supply
Bore-wells
Handpumps
Ministry of Water Resources
Often community
managed
5. Tourism (Hotels) Water Supply
Extraction and
treatment
Transmission
Storage
Distribution & user
supply
NAWEC and Own Supply
Many hotels have
their own power
borewells
6. Wastewater Management
Collection from
cities
Trunk
Treatment
Tariff Collection
National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC)
Rural
Local Communities
Stormwater
drainage
Municipal and Area Councils, but not mandated.
Only in Banjul (no
treatment)
Kotu Tourism area
served by waste
stabilisation ponds.
Disposal is free for
tankered sludge.
“Orphan” sector
7. Solid Waste Management
Collection in towns
Transportation
Disposal
Tariff collection
Municipal and Area Councils
Collection in hotels
Gambia Tourist Authority (through contractors)
Collection in rural
areas
Monitoring by
National
Environment
Authority
By property tax.
GTA does not
compensate local
authorities for
disposal
Local Communities
Technical Report No. 15 – Tourism Related Infrastructure
9
8. Roads
Trunk &
Secondary
Department of State for Works, Construction and
Infrastructure (DSWCI)
Local
Municipal and Area Councils
Tourist
Both DSWCI and Municipal and Area Councils
Street lights
Municipal and Area Councils
Footpaths by GTA
in TDA
Funded and
maintained by GTA
around the TDA.
9. Transport
Airports
Sea ports
River ports
Civil Aviation Authority (DSWCI)
Gambia Ports Authority (DSWCI)
Government Bus Service
Shared taxi & minibus
Inter-town by road
Intra-town
Shared taxi & minibus
Tourist
Tourist taxi, Bus
Limited Service
10. Telecommunications
Land lines
Gambia Telecommunications Authority (Gamtel)
Mobile / Cell
Gambia Telecommunications Authority (Gamcell)
Africell (Private sector provider)
In 1993, the Government with World Bank assistance, established
GAMWORKS as an independent Company to finance and manage the
design and construction of many infrastructure investments. It is owned
jointly by Tango (an NGO coordination body), The Gambia Bar
Association, Gambia Association of Local Governments and the National
Council for Youth and Employment.
The board consists of a
representative from each agency with the chair rotating annually. The
Managing Director is a non-member secretary. GAMWORKS finances
various construction activities and technical assistance projects for the
government, local government, donors and the private sector. It also
carries out project management unit activities, such as procurement and
management of design consultants and contractors plus construction
management, for other government and private sector agencies. The
African Development Bank (ADB) and OPEC also route funds through
GAMWORKS and it is trying to convince other donors to also do this.
Technical Report No. 15 – Tourism Related Infrastructure
10
2.3
Information Needs
All institutions met with were extremely forthcoming with information
where available. Reports, plans and drawings were made available to
the consultant and additional data requested was assembled and
provided.
Commercial and revenue data relating to number of consumers and
income was generally available from all levels of government. However,
much infrastructure information, particularly with regard to quantity, size
and condition of assets, does not seem to be available. Local authorities
lack plans of the types and widths of roads they are supposed to
maintain. To deliver effective, efficient and sustainable services this
information needs to be recorded and updated regularly. At present, it
seems that the local authorities lack the staff to do this. The consultant’s
Physical Planner and Infrastructure Expert have requested GTA to add to
their database of hotels (e.g. area, number of rooms, occupancy,
restaurants, etc) also some infrastructure information on waste and water
and power supply.
As GTA are also responsible for maintaining some infrastructure around
the TDA, such as street lights, in the short-term, GTA should also begin
to develop a database of tourism related infrastructure. A format for this
infrastructure data to be collected and added to the other hotel data is at
Annex A
2.4
Electricity
2.4.1 Existing Situation
The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) is responsible for
all power supply in The Gambia. It is also responsible for urban water
supply and sewerage. NAWEC was established in 1996 from The
Gambia Utilities Corporation and the Utilities Holding Company. NAWEC
originally came under the purview of the Department of State for Trade,
Industry and Employment, but was transferred to the President’s Office in
2002.
A Directorate of Energy has also been established and was transferred to
the Office of the President in the same year. This Directorate’s mandate
is to assist in planning strategies to meet the country’s energy
requirements. Interestingly, the Energy Directorate reports that 80% of
the country’s energy requirements are sourced from fuel wood which is
used for cooking needs. Petroleum accounts for around 18%. Renewable
energy sources are negligible.
NAWEC is headed by a Board of Directors appointed by the
Government. Day-to-day management is the responsibility of the
Managing Director.
It has eight Departments:1) Financial; 2)
Commercial; 3) Planning; 4) Water and Sewerage; 5) Power Generation;
6) Power Transmission and Distribution; 7) Provinces (mainly power);
Technical Report No. 15 – Tourism Related Infrastructure
11
and 8) Administration and Human Resources. In total, it has around
1,000 staff.
The act establishing NAWEC makes it the only company in the county
permitted to sell electricity directly to consumers. Independent power
providers (IPPs) are allowed, but they can only sell their electricity to
NAWEC.
NAWEC has recently invested heavily in transmission with assistance
from the Danish Government and the ADB. The TDA area as far Gunjur
is now provided with 33 kVA overhead cables linked to a grid for the
whole GBA. This is adequate to meet any longer term future local
and tourism demands in this area. A second phase is planned to
extend to Kartung, although funding for this is not yet identified. These
transmission improvements have reduced total losses from around 35%
to 21%. This is based on power generated against power sold. NAWEC
reports that technical losses in the transmission system are difficult to
assess.
GBA is served by one thermal power station at Kotu. Installed
generation capacity is 43 mW, but one 11 mW generator is not working,
while another 6 mWs require expensive light fuel rather than the cheaper
heavy fuel oil (HFO) which is used for the other generators. A description
of the Generators at Kotu Power Station is given at Table 2.2 below.
Average output from the plant is around 15 – 19 mWs due to frequent
breakdowns and funding constraints for fuel and maintenance. This
compares with an estimated electricity demand in the GBA of 60 to 80
mWs which is increasing by six mWs annually, although the last detailed
demand study was carried out over ten year ago.
Table 2.2:
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Composition of Generators at Kotu Power Station
Description
G1
G2
G3
G6
G11
G7
G4
G8
Total
Type
4 stroke
4 stroke line
4 stroke
2 stroke
4 stroke, V
4 stroke, V
4 stroke, V
4 stroke, V
Capacity
3.0 mW
3.0 mW
3.4 mW
6.4 mW
8.5 mW*
6.4 mW
6.4 mW
6.4 mW
43.5 mW
Fuel
Diesel
Diesel
Diesel / HFO
Diesel / HFO
Diesel / HFO
Diesel / HFO
Diesel / HFO
Diesel / HFO
Age (yrs)
20
20
10 (4)
11
26 (4)
3
3
3
NAWEC has around 35,000 electricity customers, of which domestic
consumers in GBA account for 80 per cent. However, around 40% of its
electricity income arises from the 1% of consumers who are categorised
as “large consumers”. This includes industries and the large hotels.
Total average annual operation expenditure of NAWEC is around Dalasi
300 million, of which fuel consumes Dalasi 277 million. Power and water
have a combined billing system. Hotels pay between Dalasi 300,000 and
1,600,000 per month depending on size and consumption.
Technical Report No. 15 – Tourism Related Infrastructure
12
NAWEC has four profit centres as described below:
 Power generation and transmission – this generally covers operation
costs;
 Water – also covers operation costs;
 Wastewater – loss making at present but subsidy will be phased out;
 Provinces (power only) – intentionally subsidised.
From 1999 to June 2004, NAWEC was running deeper and deeper into
loss due to depreciation of the Dalasi, lower foreign exchange earnings,
an increase in oil prices and a static tariff. In June 2004, tariffs were
increased by 86 per cent. In May 2004, production cost is estimated at
Dalasi 4.2 per kWh, but this is increasing as oil prices rise. The new
stepped tariff averages about Dalasi 5.5 per kWh for domestic users with
a Dalasi 1.55 lifeline tariff for consumption below 40 kWh per month.
Hotels and industries pay a standard Dalasi 8.02 per kWh, while
commercial customers pay Dalasi 7.25 per month. Hotels with their own
heavy duty generator can generate power at around Dalasi 6 to 7 per
KWh.
The tariff still only covers operation and maintenance (O&M) plus a small
part of depreciation or debt service. Although the Government is in debt
to NAWEC by Dalasi 53 million, NAWEC state they also owe the
government a substantial amount for debt repayments and taxes. Local
governments and para-statal organisations are also in large arrears to
NAWEC.
2.4.2 Key issues
Inadequate electricity generation is the main issue with NAWEC. This
constraint adversely impacts on every aspect of The Gambia’s economy
and is a serious constraint to encouraging inward investment. Hotels
need to provide heavy duty generators to meet power demands, as do
many offices, factories, institutions and private houses.
The electricity sector is in a crisis and even the current limited generation
capacity is in danger of being reduced further if investment is not
forthcoming. Government and NAWEC have strategies for addressing
the issue, but there is no overall framework or timetable for this, with
financing still being the major constraint.
There are also efficiency issues with regard to NAWEC. While the
upgrading of the transmission line has reduced losses, illegal
connections and transmission losses are still not known.
The street lights which were recently constructed by GTA along the cost
road from Kololi to Kotu have been criticised for using electricity which
could be supplied to more needy domestic consumers.
There is a pipeline to unload fuel from ships to tanks in Banjul, but these
cannot deal with HFO. This has to be tankered by individual truck and
Technical Report No. 15 – Tourism Related Infrastructure
13
can take as long as five days to unload a ship. A lack of competition in
The Gambia’s small market means that NAWEC pays on average around
US$80,000 more for a heavy fuel oil consignment of 5,000MT than the
equivalent cost in Dakar.
NAWEC has no facilities for the disposal of sludge oil from the Kotu
Power Plant. Previously there was an agreement with Shell who
transported the sludge for use by cement factories in Senegal. However,
similar sludge is now available in Senegal and NAWEC currently store
the sludge in one of the 3,500 m3 tanks intended for storing HFO. The
plant produces about four tonnes of sludge per day, so this tank will be
full in a few years. NAWEC are considering what to do with this issue.
There are also some key environmentally related concerns which have
already impacted on tourism areas. During heavy rainfall, waste oil from
the Koto Power Plant has spilled over into the drainage system and
reached Kotu Stream. This has occurred on three occasions, most
recently in 2003. This stream flows into the sea in the middle of the main
tourist area and beaches from Cape Point to Bijilo have been affected by
oil slicks. The National Environment Authority (NEA) and GTA are aware
of this problem and have worked with the Ports Authority to contain the
oil. NAWEC has also improved its drainage system to prevent this
occurring. However, with an average of 20 tankers required per day to
deliver fuel and generation increasing, this number will increase as well.
Therefore, the danger of oil spillage into Kotu Stream remains.
2.4.3 Proposed Interventions
The Kotu Power Plant generally lacks adequate space for further
expansion and NAWEC propose that an additional power plant be
constructed at Brikama. The transmission grid has been designed to
accommodate this. The size of this power station has yet to be
confirmed, but it would need to be around 60 mW to meet current
demand.
GDA state that NAWEC is a track one company for divestiture and a draft
electricity act which may allow IPPs to sell directly to consumers is under
preparation. A study to investigate private sector involvement is expected
to commence in 2005.
There is also a proposal for a US$ 400 million Gambia River Basin
Development Organisation. This would include a dam on Gambia River
at Sambangalou on the Senegal-Guinea border which would generate
around 100 mW plus another dam at Keleta in Guinea which will
generate 150 MW.
This could be onstream by 2009 if funds for US$ 400 million cost can be
secured. The allocation for The Gambia is still being negotiated.
Senegal, Mali and Mauritania already share a similar scheme on the
Senegal River. This might also stimulate more private sector interest due
to a larger market.
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14
NAWEC is carrying out US$ 16 million rural electrification programme
with assistance from the ADB, Islamic Development Bank and Arab Bank
for Economic Development. It is proposed to serve 42 towns through five
new thermal power stations within a few years. This programme will
provide power supply to all the main towns in the country and the new
power stations will replace the old ones currently serving Janjangbureh,
Basse and small towns. This should serve many of the proposed tourist
areas.
2.4.4 Recommendations
Overall
While government has given priority to resolving the energy crisis, a
timetable which allows short term 'fire fighting' measures and which
encourages private sector involvement needs to be put in place. Short
term objectives should be aimed at maximising the operation of the
current generation capacity. Financing this will require collecting all
arrears including those from state companies and the cancelling or
rescheduling of NAWEC’s debt. These actions would also stimulate
private sector interest. The possibility of unbundling of NAWEC’s
activities also has to be assessed. While there are efficiencies in jointly
billing water and power supply, the technical and financial aspects of the
sectors are very different. It may be that the water and wastewater
remain under government, while the electricity sector is privatised.
Similarly, the electricity generation and distribution could be separated.
Policies should also be introduced which will improve efficiency. Actions
to minimise theft and transmission losses need to be carried out. This
may require increasing the capacity of NAWEC’s staff. In the first
instance, NAWEC could offer an amnesty for illegal connections and
regularise them which would also raise some income.
Reducing demand would also increase overall availability of electricity.
The Gambia’s main renewable energy source is the sun and many uses
of solar power have already been successfully introduced. Rural bore
wells are powered directly by solar energy. The European Union has
been funding this project through the MoWR. Similarly, the mobile
telephone providers use solar energy to power their masts, as does
Gamtel for its micro-wave relay stations. Hotels could also reduce
demand by designing structures to be more air-efficient in cooling. Hot
water should be heated by solar energy.
Retrofitting existing hotels
might even be cost effective. Solar power could also be used for street
lights, particularly for local lights around hotels.
Oil sludge needs to be dealt with. HFO contracts should include the
removal of oil sludge by the oil companies. This is standard practice in
many countries. At the same time, re-use opportunities should also be
investigated.
The first action should be for NAWEC to obtain an analysis of the sludge.
They could do this directly or use an analysis of similar oil used on similar
generators elsewhere.
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15
Tourism
In the short to medium term, hotels and other commercial activities in the
tourism sector will need to provide their own generation.
There is little other option, as the lack of generation capacity in NAWEC
will not be solved within this time. There is always the possibility that an
IPP could enter into the scene and turn things around, but this will still
take a few years just to meet existing demand and required legislation.
The recent history of private sector involvement where SOGEA, a French
firm, has been involved with NAWEC in a public private initiative and then
withdrawn means the new strategy for encouraging IPPs has to be very
clearly designed.
If the new electricity act permits IPPs to sell directly to consumers, then
there is the possibility of an IPP providing power directly to the tourism
facilities in the TDA. This would benefit the hotels, but would also result
in NAWEC losing up to 40% of its electricity income which could
discourage private sector interest in the rest of the electricity sector. This
issue might be overcome by a creative financing arrangement to
compensate NAWEC.
NAWEC also require assistance in dealing with the oil spills to Kotu
Stream and possibly in other areas. This is described in more detail at
Section 4.
2.5
Water Supply
2.5.1 Existing Situation
Urban Water Supply also comes under the remit of NAWEC. Water
resources come under the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR). Nearly
all fresh water used in Lower Gambia is ground water. In the GBA, there
is a deep and a shallow aquifer. MoWR approve all ground water
extraction. They are also responsible for rural water supply. NAWEC
covers urban and regional towns. There is a water quality standards
committee comprising CEA, NAWEC and MoWR.
The Ministry of Water Resources has estimated that the minimum water
resources up to the year 2050 is over 5,000 million m3 per year. The
present demand is around 140 million m 3 per annum while it is estimated
that under a high growth scenario maximum demand in 2050 might be
just over 1,000 million m3 per year. MoWR estimate that countrywide
current abstraction is less than 10% of the recharge. However, in the
GBA the increasing demand and extraction could be putting pressure on
the freshwater recharge of the aquifers. Hence, water resources are
adequate for the foreseeable future.
At present NAWEC only supplies the GBA with an average of 34 litres
per capita per day, which is very low. However, people supplement their
water use from many private borewells. Assuming 100% occupancy for
the 6,000 hotel beds in the GBA, daily tourism demand would be a
maximum of 2,500 m3.
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NAWEC currently supply around 40,000 m3 a day to the GBA, while the
actual demand if sufficient water could be pumped would be around
80,000 m3 per day.
Hence, even if the number of tourists increases substantially, the tourism
demand is fairly small compared to the overall requirements of the GBA.
Tourists account for a maximum of 2% of the GBA’s overall water
demand.
GBA is served by three borewell fields at Serrekunda, Fajara and Sukuta.
The ground water quality is good as it comes from a deep aquifer and
only requires simple treatment of aeration and gas chlorination at three
water treatment plants at Serrekunda, Fajara and Sukuta. NAWEC pay
Dalasi 80,000 per annum per bore to local councils as a royalty for
ground water extraction.
The wells are designed to pump a total of 550 litres per second (lps), but
pump around 530 lps. The pumps are supposed to operate 22 hours per
day, but power supply is often cut and, therefore, they operate for shorter
periods. Serrekunda and Sukuta have some backup diesel generators,
but not enough to meet demand. Fajara has no back-up generator.
The transmission system allows water from one well to be pumped to
another area. The main 500 mm diameter line runs from the three
treatment plants to Banjul and the airport via Serrekunda and Sukuta with
major spurs to Fajara along Kairaba Avenue and to Kotu along Kotu
Road. Another 400 mm diameter lines joins Serrekunda and Yundum via
Faji Kunda, which is also linked to Sukuta by a 500 mm diameter line.
Distribution is from overhead tanks at strategic positions. The tourist
area is served by an overhead tank at Fajara and from an overhead tank
at Kotu close to the Bakoteh solid waste dump-site. The supply is
designed as a continuous supply, but power shortages reduce flows.
Thus, most large users and many small consumers supplement the
NAWEC supply with their own bore wells. The power bores usually are
supplied from the deep aquifer, but many residents dig wells to the
shallow aquifer.
Hotels are charged Dalasi 18.47 per m3 of water supplied. This
compares with an average domestic and institutional tariff of Dalasi 8.00
per m3.
All pipes used are imported PVC pipe, as there are no manufactures in
The Gambia of pressure bearing PVC pipe. There is some old asbestos
cement pipe. Hotels also tend to use PVC pipe for their internal
distribution systems. System losses are estimated at around only 20%.
In other parts of the country all drinking water supply is from
groundwater, either by power bore wells, powered by electricity or solar
handpumps or open wells.
2.5.2 Key issues
The main constraint with water supply is not the availability of adequate
water, but the lack of infrastructure, particularly power, to transmit it to
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the areas of demand. Even if more investment is carried out to enlarge
the system and infill the distribution areas, the lack of power to pump
water will remain a constraint. This results in many areas of the GBA
receiving inadequate water supplies. Many areas only receive water for
a few hours per day, often at very inconvenient times, such as during the
night.
The high tariff charged to hotels probably encourages them and other
large users to pump their own water. Even assuming a fairly high
generation cost of Dalasi 9 per kWh, the cost of pumping a cubic metre
of water will still only be a maximum of Dalasi 8 including depreciation or
debt serving of plant.
Where many poor families share one tapstand, the stepped tariff may
also mean they are paying more for their water.
The information provided by NAWEC as to losses seems quite low as a
24 hour supply through PVC pipe would usually have fairly high losses.
Providing an intermittent supply reduces losses, but has quality issues as
low pressures in empty pipes allows the intrusion of polluted ground
water through any breakages or poorly connected pipes.
The overhead tank serving the Koto and Kololi areas is not large enough
to meet its current demand. The 400 millimetre pumping main could
supply more water.
The MoWR state that, to avoid any potential saline intrusion into the deep
aquifer, borewells should not be drilled less than two kilometres from the
coastline.
However, many hotels have bores within this range. The shallow aquifer
is also being lowered through over pumping and there is more danger of
saline intrusion here.
2.5.3 Proposed Interventions
There is a proposal to extend the transmission grid to Brikama and
across to Sanyang using 400 mm diameter pipe. This would be served
by an additional well field to the south and north of Brikama and close to
the airport at Yundum. The alignment of the trunk main would either go
along the coast road from Gunjur to Brufut or by a more inland route via
Tujering and Salading. Either way, this proposal would meet the water
supply to the northern TDA area, assuming, of course, sufficient power
supply availability to pump the required water. There is a smaller Kotu
ring main proposed from Kotu tank along the new coast road and back to
Sukuta.
NAWEC, with ADB assistance, commissioned a Water Supply and
Sanitation Master Plan Study for the whole country. This project
commenced in 2004. The 18-month study not only focuses on the
development of a 25 year master plan, but also on the identification of
priority projects and preparing them to feasibility with detailed designs for
the first phase.
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2.5.4 Recommendations
Overall
NAWEC’s priority for water supply should be to increase the amount of
water supplied. This can be done by minimising losses in the system
and by maximising production. This would involve first obtaining data on
losses in the transmission and distribution system and providing
generators to ensure water production at all three well fields. In
particular, a back-up generator should be provided at the Fajara well
fields as a first priority.
The use of PVC pipe might also be reviewed for lower diameters.
NAWEC might consider the use of high-density polyethylene pipe
(HDPE) which is now becoming the standard material for water pipes in
many countries worldwide. PVC has a tendency to weaken if exposed to
sunlight too long. Poor connections can cause leaks. HDPE pipe comes
in rolls for diameters less than 110 mm and having longer lengths, has
fewer joints and thus less potential for leakage. Although more
expensive than PVC, HDPE is more robust, lasts longer and is easier to
connect to.
Tourism
The construction of the proposed 50 kms of ring main from Brikama to
Sanyang will be expensive and funding has not yet been identified.
NAWEC’s immediate to medium-term priority is to increase power
generation, so the timing of the ring main construction is not known. The
construction of the five km Kotu ring main would meet immediate needs
in the Kotu, Kololi and Bijilo areas and an additional overhead tank could
be constructed in this area to meet short and medium term requirements.
However, similarly as for power, new hotels will have to provide their own
bore holes until the power situation improves. The MoWR needs to work
closer with hotels to ensure that boreholes are sited away from the coast
and do not instigate saline intrusion. In the same manner that NAWEC
meter piped water supply to hotels and other users, borewells should
also be metered and charged to discourage their use and conserve
groundwater. This might also provide income to government.
2.6
Liquid Waste Management
2.6.1 Existing Situation
NAWEC is responsible for the operation of two sewerage systems in the
country. These are in Banjul where the sewage is pumped to the sea
through a 900 metre outfall and a small system in Kotu for the hotels in
that area which acts as a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Thus, the
vast majority of both urban and rural inhabitants use some sort of on-plot
disposal system. Neither NAWEC nor the local authorities maintain
information on sanitation systems. However, most hotels and larger
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houses have septic tanks while smaller houses have pit latrines. Septic
tanks are emptied by sludge tankers which deposits the sludge free of
cost in Kotu WWTP. Sludge is dried and sold to local farmers as fertiliser.
The Kotu sewerage system extends from the Fajara Hotel to Kairaba
Hotel with the WWTP being located between them just off Kotu Road
within the TDA. Constructed in 1979, there are four pumping stations
which discharge the sewage to waste stabilisation ponds. The capacity
of the ponds is around 20,000 m3 per day, which could serve up to
40,000 tourists using 400 litres per tourist per day. However, the existing
pump capacity is only 3,500 m3. This still can serve up to 9,000 tourists,
so the present capacity is ample.
With the rapid increase in the population in GBA, the groundwater table,
particularly the higher aquifer, may be becoming polluted as seepage
from septic tanks and pit latrines permeates into the ground.
The local authorities are by default responsible for stormwater drainage
as no other government department claims this function.
The Gambia Ports Authority is responsible for coastal environmental
protection. It has no waste management or bilge facilities for ships.
UNDP has assisted with a port environmental project, mainly to clean up
the sunken ships. Oil booms are available and were used during recent
oil spills from Kotu Power Plant.
2.6.2 Key issues
The technology choice of waste stabilisation ponds is perfect for The
Gambia. They require little maintenance and operate well in warm
climates. The pump stations generally also operate reasonably well,
although they are in series and can overflow.
The pump adjacent to the Senegambia and Kairaba hotels often breaks
down and allows sewage to back up and overflow. The Senegambia
Hotel provides power to this pump during power outages and the
situation has improved somewhat.
However, the ponds are currently not functioning as intended. The
NAWEC staff have to spend all their time checking the pump stations and
seem unable to carry out the little routine maintenance required. This is
mainly keeping the sides clear from growth etc. There is no preliminary
treatment to remove solids and none at the pump stations either. This
could be a cause for the frequent pump breakdowns.
While the influent from hotels is usually fairly dilute, the main issue is that
the ponds receive daily the sludge from about 14 sludge tankers which is
poured directly into the first ponds, which act as facultative ponds. This
is a significant deviation from their design.
This sludge also contains many plastics and other solids. The second
pond is completely covered in macrophyte growth and does not seem to
be functioning, while the maturation pond has a heavy algal growth and
is acting more as the facultative pond. This means that the discharge
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from the ponds to Kotu Stream is very high in nutrients and possibly
pathogens also. The Ministry of Water Resources has equipment to
check the BOD5 which is a measure of pollution, but they have no power
for the five days necessary to do this test. One of the ponds seems to
have serious infiltration problems as it takes a very long time to fill. All in
all, this WWTP does not effectively treat the wastewater.
NAWEC charge Dalasi 5 per m3 of NAWEC’s water consumed by the
hotels as a sewerage charge. However, much of the wastewater
originating for the hotels comes from borewells and is thus conveyed and
treated at no cost to the hotels. NAWEC report that the sewerage pumps
run for about 4 hours per day. This gives a flow of around 1,200 m3 per
day. Estimating the total lift as say 150 metres, the pumping cost alone
is around Dalasi 5.7 per m3. Therefore, this tariff does not seem to cover
the operation cost of the sewerage system and treatment.
Stormwater drainage in the GBA is a problem. The haphazard
development of Serrekunda and its surroundings has blocked many
natural drainage channels and causes flooding. The problem has
become so serious that the road improvements being funded by the
World Bank in Kanifing Municipality are being built without the intended
drains as there is nowhere for the drain to discharge. The Water Supply
and Sanitation Master Plan study currently underway in NAWEC does
not include stormwater drainage.
The main drains into the sea along the TDA are exacerbating beach
erosion as the existing and reclaimed sand is not protected from this
flow. As Serrekunda’s population grows and the area densifies and
natural retention areas are filled in and built upon, stormwater run-off will
continue to increase and the drainage problem will worsen. This will also
be exacerbated if the water supply is improved to meet demand.
The feasibility of providing sewers in Serrekunda is being investigated
under the Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan. This Plan will also
develop other priority sewerage and sanitation proposals.
2.6.3 Recommendations
Overall
If a sewerage master plan is prepared for Serrekunda, it should also
include stormwater drainage. The surveys and field work required for a
sewerage system could easily include stormwater drainage, although a
combined system might not be the most effective or efficient option.
Tourism
The Kotu WWTP requires rehabilitation and the system should be
extended to more hotels. If the ponds functioned correctly, then the
effluent could be used for irrigation. Fajara Golf Course is just across
Kotu Stream from the WWTP and with some final chemical treatment, the
effluent would be suitable for use there.
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The ponds themselves may not require much work apart from cleaning
and preventing the infiltration at pond one, but they may need to be
relined. The pump stations may have to be enlarged to meet increased
flows from additional hotels and should have grills to separate solids.
The WWTP should also have a fine screen for solids’ removal. Septic
sludge from tankers should be dealt with separately on drying beds.
More thorough analysis would be required to estimate the cost of this
work, but a very approximate estimate puts the cost of this work at US$
150,000 just for the treatment plant.
It is proposed that this work could be included as a priority for the Water
Supply and Sanitation Master Plan. Clearly, as the WWTP serves the
tourism area, it should not be a cost to government. Operation of this
system would be an excellent option for private sector involvement. A
private operator would have an incentive to connect the system to more
users and ensure effective treatment for water reuse. Hotels could pay
directly based upon the quantity of NAWEC water consumed and this
would be a good opportunity to charge by quantity for bore well extraction
which would allow a more accurate pricing of sewerage tariffs.
The extension of the sewerage system to other hotels needs to be
planned to ensure rights of way are maintained for sewer access.
The beach erosion from stormwater drainage could be prevented in the
short term by building pipes or gabions to direct the stormwater and
protect the sand. This is being dealt with by the CEA under the Coastal
Erosion Prevention Project.
2.7
Solid Waste Management
2.7.1 Existing Situation
Solid waste management is the responsibility of the local councils. In the
GBA, this falls to Banjul Municipality, Kanifing Municipality and Brikama
Area Council. In fact, as water and power supply come under NAWEC,
solid waste management is the largest function of the GBA’s local
authorities and the bulk of their staff and expenditure is used for this
sector. In the TDA, GTA has appointed contractors to collect the waste
from hotels.
The contractors remove all non-garden waste which is tipped at Bakoteh
dumpsite free of charge to the contractors. Hotels also contract firms to
remove their garden waste.
Current collection is by a combination of house-to-house collection in
some areas and by communal containers in others. Some areas are not
served. A large proportion of the solid waste, around 45% comprises
sand from yard sweeping.
There are two dumpsites at Mile Two, near Banjul and at Bakoteh on the
Kotu road. Both are open tipping yards with no lining to prevent leachate
or fencing to prevent access and control spreading of waste.
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2.7.2 Key issues
The exact amount of waste collected from that generated in the GBA is
not known but it is estimated at around 60%. Most solid waste collection
equipment is old and requires frequent repairs. Uncollected waste
accumulates in low-lying areas and drains and aggravates the
stormwater drainage problems. A substantial amount of solid waste is
washed up on the beaches along the TDA. The sources of this flotsam
are not known, but it does not seem to come from ships. It could be
washed into the sea during heavy rainfall.
The current dump-sites are environmental and health hazards. The
leachate from Bakoteh drains into the Kotu Stream, and for Mile Two into
the mangrove wetlands in that area. With no methane removal in the
dumps there is a danger of fire and potential reuse is limited as methane
production can continue for a long time, even after the dump is capped
and closed.
Much of the waste is informally recycled, particularly glass, plastics and
metals. There does not seem to be any composting formally carried out,
although this may take place in compounds.
2.7.3 Proposed Interventions
The World Bank is assisting Government with a solid waste study for the
GBA which was completed in May 2004. This is a component of the
Poverty Alleviation and Capacity Building Project of the Department of
State and Local Government and Lands. The plan proposes that the
Mile Two and Bakoteh Dump sites ultimately be capped and closed and
a new regional sanitary landfill site be constructed at Tambana, five
kilometres west of Brikama. To facilitate transfer of waste, Mile Two and
Bakoteh would be converted to solid waste transfer stations. The first
phase of US$ 2.7 million project will be to create sanitary landfill facilities
at Bakoteh with its phasing out, closure and restoration over the next few
years.
The study recommends the creation of a regional authority for solid
waste transfer and disposal to coordinate the local authorities which
would still be responsible for collection. The study also recommends
composting for organic solid waste, particularly that from generated by
hotels and restaurants. The solid waste management will be paid by an
increase in land tax for all commercial, industrial and residential users,
including hotels. Tipping fees will be charged to private entities using the
waste sites. Coverage of all areas and private sector involvement at the
collection level to reduce costs has also been recommended.
2.7.4 Recommendations
Overall
The proposals outlined in the study will assist in addressing the solid
waste problems.
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23
Tourism Related
Within the hotels, waste minimisation should be encouraged. The GTA
could determine from hotels whether there is a demand to keep the
beach clean. By employing labour to remove garbage and other solid
waste, this would keep the beaches clean and provide employment at a
low cost to the hotels. Hotels could also be allowed to advertise on the
beach they clean, e.g. allow signs saying: “This beach kept clean by xxxx
Hotel”.
2.8
Roads and Transportation
2.8.1 Existing Situation
National highways and major local roads come under the jurisdiction of
the Department of State for Works, Construction and Infrastructure
(DSWCI). Local roads are built and maintained by local authorities. In
urban areas, this is the second largest sector for these authorities after
solid waste management. DSWCI are also responsible for public
transport, and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Gambia Ports
Authority (GPA) officially come under their remit.
They also are involved in the implementation of the Coastal Erosion
Prevention Project. GPA has two divisions. A Marine Department deals
with ports activities in Banjul and the River Department looks after the
ferry crossings.
Road standards and statistics used are those of the US and UK. A roads
design manual is currently underway. Maintenance is carried out by two
department units and also by private contractors. Funds for this are
provided from the Government’s budget.
State highways are bitumen or laterite. In and around the TDA, the roads
are of adequate width and good quality. All hotels have good access to
the airport along a recently constructed highway. No major new roads
for tourism are required, however they do need maintenance if they
are to remain in good condition.
Municipal roads are simple gravel, improved laterite or bitumen. In some
narrow lanes in Serrekunda, concrete slabs are being used. The
municipalities do not have records of road types, condition and lengths.
Local road maintenance is funded by a toll on commercial vehicles which
is charged daily. There is no private involvement in road funding or
maintenance, although the Ministry would like to pilot this.
GTA has constructed concrete footpaths in parts of the TDA. These
footpaths are located about 500 metres from the sea and have been
designed for tourists and other users to view parts of the forest area.
Public transport is by shared or private taxi or by bus. There is a limited
Government long- distance bus service operated by Gambia Public
Transport Corporation (GPTC). Tourist taxis are also available in tourist
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areas and boards showing the rate for popular destinations have been
erected. Rates to up-country destinations are also displayed.
There are nine ferry crossings across the River Gambia. The main one
is from Banjul to Barra. Other major crossings are from Yelitenda to
Bambatenda on the Trans-Gambian Highway and at JanJangbureh and
Basse. There is no scheduled service riverboat (see Technical Report
No. 8).
2.8.2 Key issues
All road providers complain of a lack of funds for road maintenance. This
lack of maintenance is noticeable in and around the TDA. In particular,
the road from Fajara to Cape Point called Atlantic Boulevard which is a
major tourism thoroughfare is practically in a non-motorable condition.
Maintenance budgets are approved, but often the funds are not provided.
The lack of drains also worsens road deterioration. Most roads are
laterite which become difficult to drive on during the wet season,
particularly on more heavily trafficked roads.
The poor condition of the roads is a major constraint to opening inland
areas for tourism development. Average speed of 30 kilometres per hour
along very bumpy roads does not encourage tourists to undertake an
excursion. But this is a greater problem than just for tourism; because
these roads mainly carry all inland transport. Tourism, or probably any
other sector, will not be able to stimulate economic development inland if
access takes so much time and cost money in damaged vehicles from
poor roads.
2.8.3 Proposed Interventions
There is a proposal to establish a Gambia Roads and Transport Authority
and the Government has requested assistance from the EU, although
status and timing are unclear. The new law has no specific provisions for
private sector involvement. It also proposes funding of RTA by road user
tax, vehicle licensing, vehicle registration, and an excess on fuel. The
MoF is currently discussing this funding. The RTA may also take over
responsibility for municipality roads, as they often carry out maintenance.
DSWCI has secured funding to upgrade the main road from Mandina Ba
to Soma. This project should commence later this year. With the
completion of the Serrekunda to Mandina Ba road, this should improve
access to any tourist sites along the south bank of the river. Another
road from Kerwan to Farafeni should also start soon improving access
along the river’s north bank. There are various other proposals for road
improvements with DSWCI.
Under the Poverty Alleviation and Capacity Building Project, some roads
around Serrekunda are being upgraded to bitumen. The privatisation of
GPA and GPTC is also proposed.
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2.8.4 Recommendations
Although the proposed roads will ease access to land tourist sites, more
are required. Importantly, good road maintenance is critical. If access is
improved then the roads deteriorate again, and this will discourage
investors in inland tourism.
GTA has proposed a new road to open up the TDA area between Bijilo
and Brufut. About two kilometres of road will be required. This road
could either be a continuation of the main road, costing around US$
300,000 or a small access road costing around US$ 175,000. The
existing road is not far away, so the latter option would not only be less
expensive, but also possibly offer more development opportunities.
The GTA footpaths should be developed further, particularly to link the
tourist nodes. This has already been done to link the “Bungalow Beach”
area to “Palma Rima” and it should be continued to the Senegambia
Strip. Rights of way are available as the path can follow the line of the
sewers.
All main roads are bitumen. The use of concrete roads should also be
investigated. Concrete roads are more expensive to construct than
bitumen roads, but they require much less maintenance and are not
damaged by floodwater, so are suitable for coastal areas. They are
expensive to excavate, so should only be constructed in areas already
provided with services. PVC pipes can be placed under the road at say
30 metre intervals to accommodate any additional water, power or other
service connections and avoid excavation. Atlantic Boulevard would be a
good place to pilot a concrete road, as it’s already developed and the
road floods frequently.
2.9
Telecommunications
2.9.1 Existing Situation
Gambia Telecommunications Company (Gamtel), a government owned
entity founded in 1984 is the main provider for both landlines and GSM
mobile telephones, the latter through a subsidiary company called
Gamcell. There is also one private sector provider for GSM telephones,
Africell.
There are around 45,000 land connections and 130,000 mobile users of
which 80,000 are with Gamcell. Gamcell has installed capacity to extend
to 120,000 users. Africell cover around 85% of the population area.
The existing land based system is fully digital equivalent to western
European standards. There is a fibre optic link along the TDA area. The
local transmission network’s capacity is much higher than any
likely demand in the medium term.
International connections are through an earth station and a voice over
internet provider (IP) via Dakar for which Gamtel has a monopoly. There
are two main internet service providers.
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2.9.2 Key issues
Gamtel is also proposed for privatisation but there have been problems
with missing funds which is under investigation by a judicial commission.
Internet connection speeds are inadequate. This is due to the low
international capacity and sharing of the voice over IP with the internet
band. Datacomms such as ISDN lines and virtual private networks are
available.
There is a proposal to cover all villages in the country with wireless loop.
Gamtel also propose to build a fibre optic link on the south bank of the
river and a microwave system on the north.
2.9.3 Recommendations
The international lines “log jam’ needs resolving, particularly to improve
internet access.
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3.
FUTURE TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS
3.1
Future Scenarios
Clearly, the vast majority of tourists will continue to arrive and stay in the
Kombo area. To extend the benefits of tourism, the government is keen
to develop it in other parts of the country. This section describes the
infrastructure which would be required. It also discusses the institutional
requirements to ensure tourist infrastructure is maintained and suggests
level of service and standards for tourism facilities. Finally, unit costs for
selected infrastructure components have been provided.
3.2
Servicing the Ten Tourist Areas
Ten potential tourist areas have been identified. A critical factor in
developing these areas will be accessibility to tourist infrastructure. Not
all areas will require the same standards and levels of service. The TDA
area which will continue to accommodate and service the vast majority of
tourists requires very high failsafe standards and levels of service. More
ecological destinations, such as national parks, may not require such
high standards. As indicated before, timely and comfortable access to
these areas is the major issue which needs to be resolved. In fact, the
major road upgrading programme proposed by DSWCI, could determine
priorities for these areas’ development as tourism centres. Most of these
roads are of strategic national importance. Tourism benefits might be
used to justify the development of these roads. However, the potential
impact of tourism on the economies of these areas needs more
investigation before this can be justified. Furthermore, the geography of
The Gambia leaves few options for trunk road development.
Annex B provides a list of the proposed roads’ programme with status.
Other on-site infrastructure such as water and power supply and waste
management will vary with local conditions. Any tourist accommodation
in these areas would need to provide power supply back-up and their
own borewell for water.
1) West Coast (existing TDA including extension from Kotu Stream
to Cape Point) and 2) Brikama
The servicing of these two areas has been fully described in Section
Two.
3) Banjul
Access to Banjul is by an existing good quality main road. There is one
large tourist hotel in Banjul. Other infrastructure is not required as visits
to Banjul will be mostly day trips.
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4) Western River
This will mainly be day visits and the upgrading of the Mandina Ba to
Soma road is already planned.
5) Jufureh and 6) North Coast
The main constraint to tourism in this area is the current logjam at the
Banjul to Basse ferry. If tourism vehicles were to pay a premium, they
could possibly be given priority. This would aid tourism and increase
revenue to the GPA.
7) Kiang West
This area can also be accessed by the Mandina Ba to Soma road, while
a loop road around this area is also proposed.
8) Baobolong Wetland
This area suffers from the same issues as Jufureh and the North Coast
and the same recommendations apply. The upgrading of the Kerwan to
Farafeni road will improve access to this area.
9) Central River and 10) Upper River
Possible air and river access to these areas is being dealt with
separately. Road access will depend upon the DSWCI’s upgrading
programme. DSWCI should be informed of any potential major tourist
sites in these areas to help them formulate their plans.
3.3
Institutional Recommendations
Nearly all Government agencies seem financially under-resourced.
Staffing also seems to be an issue. Kanifing Municipal Council which
now covers a population of 320,000 does not have an engineer. Water
and power supply is covered by NAWEC, but for roads, drainage and
solid waste adequate coverage is not available.
3.4
Suggested Levels of Service and Standards
Table 3.1 below suggests various infrastructure standards and service
levels for hotels. Obviously, this will vary with different hotels and even
management styles, so the figures are approximate guides. There are
four categories: 1) four and five star equivalent; 2) two and three star
equivalent; 3) basic tourist hotel; and 4) eco-lodge type accommodation.
Categories 1) and 2) are assumed to have air-conditioned rooms and
swimming pools, 3) and 4) do not. The figures also include staff use of
utilities and their waste generation.
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Table 3.1
Suggested Daily Infrastructure Service Levels for Hotels
Hotel Type
1) 4 / 5 Star
(Daily Demand per bed)
400 litres
Water supply
320 litres
Wastewater
1.3 kVA
Power Supply
1.8 kg
Solid Waste
3.5
2) 2 / 3 star
3) Basic
4) Eco-lodge
300 litres
200 litres
1.1 kVA
1.4 kg
150 litres
120 litres
0.4 kVA
0.8 kg
100 litres
80 litres
0.2 kVA
0.4 kg
Unit Costs
The unit costs below have been obtained from information on recently
constructed works and provided by central and local government. The
costs have been converted into US Dollars as construction costs have
quite a high foreign component in equipment, materials and power. This
should allow more accurate future cost estimations.
However, these are only broad unit costs with a probable accuracy of
around ± 30% to be used for outline planning purposes. Actual costs will
vary with specific site conditions.
Table 3.2
Item
Unit Costs for Selected Infrastructure
Description
Cost
per Cost per Source
metre
run m2 (US$)
(US$)
Laterite Road*
width 10.0 metres
Gamworks
22
2.2
Bitumen Road*
Concrete Road*
Footpath*
Road-side Drain
Street lights
Water main
width 7.0 metres
(with 2, 1.5 metre
bitumen verges)
width 7.0 metres
(with 2, 1.5 metre
laterite verges)
Width 3.0, 75 mm
thick concrete
slabs
Width 300 mm,
depth 300 mm,
masonry on both
sides of road
main road, poles 30
metres apart
PVC pipe 100 mm
diameter
HDPE pipe 100
mm diameter
DSWCI
160
16
220
28
50
Infrastructur
e Engineer’s
Estimation
Gamworks
17
15.0
N/a
95.0
2,700 (per
unit with
cables &
light)
Infrastructur
e Engineer’s
Estimation
Gamworks
Brikama
Area Council
Water main
Infrastructur
3.5
N/a
e Engineer’s
Estimation
* Road and footpath costs do not include drainage. Generally, these unit costs seem
high when compared to other countries with similar incomes.
2.0
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N/a
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4.
IMMEDIATE ACTION PLAN
4.1
Introduction
The TDMP’s strategy and programmes highlights where key
interventions are required. There are some critical infrastructure-related
interventions, or programmes, which are recommended. These
programmes have an environmental context as they aim to protect and
sustain the tourism assets.
From these programmes immediate action plans (IAPs) have also been
developed, which should commence as soon as possible. The IAPs will
require some funding, and actions have been prioritised based upon an
assessment of the urgency of the project with costs and then compared
with benefits.
4.2
Kotu Stream Protection Programme
The issues of Bakoteh dumpsite, Kotu Power Plant and Kotu WWTP all
polluting the Kotu Stream have been described in Section 2 of this
Technical Report. This small stream flows through the TDA and enters
the sea at the centre of a busy beach area frequented by both tourists
and locals.
The Kotu Stream Protection Programme aims to prevent further pollution
of this stream through three projects each targeted at the main polluter:
Clean-up and Closure of Bakoteh Solid Waste Dump
This project is described above and has already been designed,
approved and funding secured from the World Bank. It should continue
to be implemented as planned.
Rehabilitation of Kotu Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)
The wastewater treatment plant does not function correctly and the
effluent is not as designed. A full description of the issues is contained
above. This project aims to:
- Rehabilitate the WWTP;
- Extend the sewerage system to more customers;
- Ensure full cost recovery from the users, possibly by private sector
involvement.
The rehabilitation of the WWTP will cost around US$ 150,000 as shown
in Table 4.1 below.
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Table 4.1 Outline Cost Estimate for the Rehabilitation of Kotu WWTP
Item
Cost (US$)
1
Clean Ponds
1.1
Remove garbage, scum and growth around edges
1,000
1.2
Clear all macrophyte growth
2,000
1.3
Remove sludge
5,000
2
Repair and reline ponds
3
Construct screens & rehabilitate inflow chamber
20,000
4
Construct sludge beds
12,000
5
Rehabilitate outfall
Total
100,000
5,000
145,000
This is a very rough cost estimate and a more detailed study is required
to assess the extent of rehabilitation required. The extension of the
sewerage system may require additional pumps and possibly even large
pipes, although this could be avoided by increasing storage. The pumps
should also be fitted with screens.
It is suggested that this component be taken forward as a priority project
by the Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan which is under
preparation by NAWEC. Cost recovery for this project should be fairly
straightforward although legislation may be required to allow private
sector involvement.
Prevention of Oil Spills from Kotu Power Plant.
This project should commence as soon as possible, as there is still a
high risk of spillage. The sources of potential pollution need to be
investigated and the solution may encompass civil works, equipment and
human resource capacity building through better operation practices.
It is recommended to carry out a study to:
- Assess the main causes of the pollution;
- Determine means to prevent it with costs for civil works, any equipment
and training required;
- Suggest means to overcome the need to store waste oil and oil sludge
at site.
This will require approximately one month for an expert with experience
in oil-fired power plants operation and waste management, and about
two weeks of an environmental specialist. The NEA could be the
Government agency to manage the study.
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4.3
Green Tourism Programme
The need to reduce demand for power and other resource uses for hotels
has been highlighted in Section 2 of this Technical Report. The great
advantage of a properly implemented green hotel programme is that
ultimately it saves hotels money, as reduced operation costs outweigh
the initial capital investment.
The programme would aim to make the management of tourism-related
infrastructure and services more efficient and have the following
components.
4.3.1 Reducing Resource Consumption
Direct reduction of power use through:
Introduction of solar power for heating water, garden lights and possibly
power bores. It costs around US$ 36,000 for a solar power bore which
can pump 100 m3 per day. This could meet the daily demands of a 150
room hotel. Hotels could even be retrofitted for solar water heating to
save power costs.
Use of power saving equipment, e.g. long term light bulbs, automatic
shut-off for lights.
Indirect savings of power through:
Reducing water demand through methods such as only washing towels
as requested; use of aeration-taps to maintain water pressure but reduce
flow; use of sea-water in swimming pools (technologies now exist which
convert the salt in the water to chlorine to disinfect the pool and cause
the water to be less saline); re-use of wastewater for irrigating large
garden areas.
Each hotel has its own potential for reducing resource use. An Energy
Audit is the best means to identify where savings can be made.
Guidelines for this audit and training of staff to carry it our, could be
prepared by GTA.
4.3.2 Minimising Waste
This would introduce means to reduce, reuse, recycle and recover waste
("4R approach"). Much of the recovery and recycling is already done
informally by scavengers. The solid waste project proposes to assist
these scavengers by providing them better equipment and health
protection and making their role more formal.
Hotels could be
encouraged to reduce use of packaging and disposable items.
4.3.3 Beach Protection and Development
This would aim at involving hotels in protecting the shoreline and
beaches. Actions could vary from keeping the beach clean to informing
guests about the need for coastal protection.
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The installation of pipes or gabions to protect the beach from inland
stormwater drainage is being carried out as part of the Costal Erosion
Protection Project.
Hotels may need guidelines and assistance to design, implement and
operate this programme. GTA could create a Green Hotel Officer to
assist hotels in this programme and prepare guidance for them.
4.3.4 Other Infrastructure
Back-up generators for Fajara well-field and for the other borewells have
already been identified as a priority for the Water Supply and Sanitation
Master Plan. The construction of a new overhead tank at Kotu depends
on the timing of the Kotu ring main construction.
4.4
Financing Tourism Infrastructure
While it is important that tourists should personally benefit from their stay
in The Gambia, financially and economically, tourism should be of a
benefit to The Gambia and improve social and environmental conditions.
As a guiding criterion, the tourists should pay for their own infrastructure
and services and these should not be directly, or indirectly, subsidised by
Government. This criterion emerges from a more general rule which
should be applied, i.e. the polluter should pay for the pollution caused.
Hence, the tourists should pay the full cost of their waste management
and long term environmental costs of their actions on natural resources,
such as the beach.
Applying the "polluter-pays" principle to preventing oil spills at Kotu
Power Plant implies that NAWEC should meet this cost. However,
NAWEC finds it difficult to find finance to buy oil to generate power at
present, and therefore, it is recommended that the study be funded by a
donor and if the cost is substantial, then NAWEC may require assistance
to carry out the work. NAWEC’s contribution could be in improving
systems and human resources to ensure no further spills occur.
However, in many cases infrastructure, particularly off-site roads, power
and water supply has to be provided prior to investors developing their
hotels or other tourist facilities. This is also a more efficient method of
providing infrastructure. Hence, there is a need for Government to
identify and secure funding.
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ANNEX A - INFRASTRUCTURE DATA
(to be obtained from hotels by GTA)
Hotel
Name
No of Power Supply
Rooms
No
of Output
Gener(kVA)
ators
Water Supply
Paid to
NAWEC
per
annum
for
power
Own
Licence
BoreCost
well
(Yes or
No)
Technical Report No. 15 – Tourism Related Infrastructure
Sewage to
Amount
pumped
Paid to Septic
NAWEC Tank
per
annum
for water
35
Sewer
Other
Solid
waste
Collected by
Contract Other
or
ANNEX B– PROPOSED NATIONAL ROADS UPGRADING PROGRAMME
(As at 2004)
(Outline Costs and Status)
Road
1. Mandina Ba to Soma
Length
(km)
141
2. Kerawan to Farafeni
57
3. Laminkoto to Passimus
120
Cost
(US$ Status
million)
30.0
Approved and contract
about to be awarded
10.0
tender process started.
N/a
Donors being sought
4. Basse to Koina, via Fatoto
50
“
Donors being sought
5. Kuntiar-Albreda-Pakau55
Bangali
6. Brikama-Dimbaya26
Darsilami loop
7. Serrekunda-Sukuta-Gunjur 35
“
Donors being sought
“
Donors being sought
“
Donors being sought
8. Killy-Bintang-KomotoKenaba-Sankanadi Loop
“
Donors being sought
65
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