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jambo
3300 Posts |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
 Posted - 24 Jul 2006 : 21:43:47
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quote:
Originally posted by jambo
just read this on
http://www.observer.gm/enews/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5233&Itemid=33.
What taxes, for locals or foreigners
no a bad idea. i have always thought we are missing out on all these outsourcing from programmers to call centres going to India.
i sincerely hope they develop the academic side of it too by introducing Computer Science degrees at the newly established University of The Gambia. |
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aminomo
Gambia
13 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jul 2006 : 16:29:43
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| yep...heard CSI will be introduced soon. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jul 2006 : 18:08:54
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| that is good news |
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Alhassan
Sweden
813 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2006 : 09:34:31
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
that is good news
Kons,
This is good news if implemented and utilised properly. Gambia needs technical development. I hope that the Electricity problem is solved by then. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2006 : 17:49:58
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| I was going to say just that. With NAWEC in the doldrums, no capital investment will work in the gambia |
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Jack
Belgium
384 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2006 : 18:10:28
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Does anyone know what happened with the 2 new generators Jammeh received few days before the AU summit. He was so happy with these toys that he was dancing in the streets. 
Is the power on ? |
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LEMON TIME
Afghanistan
1295 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2006 : 18:42:35
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| JACK LOOK TOWARDS KANILAI IF THE TOYS ARE NOT IN KOTU. |
There is no god but Allah |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2006 : 19:11:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Jack
Does anyone know what happened with the 2 new generators Jammeh received few days before the AU summit. He was so happy with these toys that he was dancing in the streets.
Is the power on ?
The problem is we have too many small generators whose out put is very low. What we need is an industrial generator and not Mickey Mouse types that cannot light a single household. If my memory serves me right, we have received at least five to six generators so far yet the problem only gets worst.
1. Either that the generators were actually never delivered or
2. They have been delivered but not connected yet to the grid or
3. They have been delivered but generate very little electricity which means they must be very old or
4. That they are not new after all and almost near their life cycle or
5. That the “black cats” have struck again.
In any case, Gambia’s leap into the future is directly dependent on how this sector of our economy reshapes itself. Silicon Valley will always remain as the shadowy dream of a visionary unless this area is seriously and adequately addressed. NAWEC is over-staffed and has suffered too much political sycophancy. The resultant effect is an unsustainable pay roll costs rising faster than revenue generation thanks to too many illegal connections and under collection of revenue.
I had electricity connected to my house but for over six months I could not get someone to come over and read my meter. I had to drive employees to the site for them to generate money for their company that pays them salary. For NAWEC to work, the following changes although not exhaustive are necessary
1. There should be a freeze in employment especially the support staff. They have far too many than they need. I once went to collect my bill for water connection, which took more than six months to have. No one seemed to know where my bill was yet many were seen talking about naming ceremonies and weddings.
2. All meters should be changed to prepaid electric meters in which case you pay before the service is utilized and hence this will mean a reduction in meter readers who only sit around doing nothing. This will also increase cash flow for the corporation, which can improve its ability to invest. It will also improve the pay roll bill, reduce leakages in the corporation;
3. There has to be an improvement in the lines which are so old, that in many neighborhoods, electric sparks have become the major source of lighting and highly dangerous especially this time of the year when rain fall is accompanied by thunder storms and lightening. A lot of what is generated is lost before reaching the consumer. I understand there is a need for capital investment, but can only be sustainable if leakages are minimized and proper financial discipline is adhered to at all levels, from the meter reader to the top. Merely buying big generators guarantees nothing. The whole corporate culture has to change from the days of GUC to NAWEC. Name change makes no difference without adequate internal change in procedures and processes.
4. They need to reduce the bureaucracy and red tape in applications. The reason for most illegal connections is the frustration one goes through even if one wants to connect legally. The red tape is huge and many just give up. Electric meters are issued in Banjul, but application is approved in Fajara whilst the technicians who do the site survey are in Bakau. These offices report to different supervisors and managers. Even if they all report to the same manager, the fact that they are miles away from each other, coordinating them is almost impossible and hence so many utility vehicles and increase maintenance and fuel costs. NAWEC should by now have built their own office. They have been around for too long and keep renting all over country. Cost of rents can definitely be avoided. There are many state lands lying idle. It only needs someone practical to see the forest and not the trees.
Hence coordination is such a big problem that no one knows what is going on. If you don’t have a vehicle forget about making an application. You have to ferry the employees yourself. Their Human Resources office should improve their Organization and Method section commonly called O&M if they actually have any. This section of management deals with office layout, workflow and relationships in a delivery system. I will be happy to lend a support if they need to and can recommend highly placed institutions that provide first class training in this area.
5. All institutions either public or private must have to pay their bills on time and management should have the authority to disconnect anyone without giving notice to them. You cannot expect to use a service and not pay.
6. The hourglass-shaped staffing profile, in which an organization has far too many operational staff at the bottom and far to many managerial staff at the top, squeezes the very people in middle management who actually provide the hands on effect for growth. This imbalance has to be improved for there to a an effective change. Our rates are very high, among the highest in the world yet we cannot provide services. It defies the basic economic principles of demand and supply in which an increase in price also increases supply for maximization of profit. At NAWEC, an increase in prices of electricity reduces supply; whilst an increase in demand also reduces supply. This distortion of the economic principles is not by accident by design unfortunately.
Our biggest problem is national pride.
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2006 : 20:45:42
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
The problem is we have too many small generators whose out put is very low. What we need is an industrial generator and not Mickey Mouse types that cannot light a single household.
......GUC to NAWEC. Name change makes no difference
...All meters should be changed to prepaid electric meters
....At NAWEC, an increase in prices of electricity reduces supply; whilst an increase in demand also reduces supply
i feel i must say to you that what you are doing is wrong and very misleading. discussion and debate have to be done within the narrow boundary of FACTS. we all share the same wishes for our country but whatever the political situation one must be objective and recognise efforts especially if the outcome is permanent.
secondly what is an industrial generator. Industries dont have generators under normal circumstances they are connected to the GRID.
NAWEC is no longer at FAJARA for more than a year now they have renovated their old premises at West Field where COOPERATIVE was.
GUC to NAWEC is not name changing. its the result of attempts to restructure three times. there was MSG, UHC, etc. GUC was created by an Act of Parliament, NAWEC is a public company just like GAMTEL. thats why you have NAWEC Ltd.
your statement on prepaid meter shows you dont understand how they work.
so far there is no EVIDENCE that electricty consumption is decreasing rather the gap is increasing. obvioulsy thats why new generator are being bought. there is no ANOMALY. infact all studies have shown that most households would increase electricity consumption even if the price increases to a certain extent, reliable supply not cost is usually the limiting factor.
you text is outdated, misleading and repetitive. NAWEC has been dicussed extensively before, i think Jack's question is simple.
now let us answer JACK's question. its very simple without broadening it.
First FIVE (5) generators were delivered not two.
in the first set, it was two from the gambian consul in italy specifically for the AU summit. these were 2.8MW each
the second set were three new generators for a new power plant being built in Brikama. they were 6.6MW each. total 24MW.
these FACTS as readily available if you read the papers.
http://www.observer.gm/enews/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4818&Itemid=33
http://www.observer.gm/enews/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4923&Itemid=33&PHPSESSID=f304d06b0704f905172cebf8833c931e
i dont know how much you know about power but to give you an idea you can assume the whole capacity of the capital banjul to be 5MW. these three generators are not small or mickey mouse, if you know your FACTS then you will realise that if connected they would vitually double output.
which ever way you see this it will improve the electricty situation.
the magic water has really turned you into an emotional guy, but MADIBA was right this morning you are misleading people!
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2006 : 21:21:12
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May be i need to be more explicit. As a lay man in power generations, you must excuse my ability to express my self in technical terms.
What i meant by "At NAWEC, an increase in prices of electricity reduces supply; whilst an increase in demand also reduces supply" is that even though pur prices of electricity is high, yet we cannot increase supply which is a fact. Gambians pay one of the highest rates per kilo watt of electricity but supply is serious restricted. Does this make it clear to you.
What i mean by an industrial generator is simply a generator with a very large out put. Whatever word you wish to choose is fine so long as it means a generator with very high capacity. Ofcorse we are all connected to a grid but there is a generator that produces the electricity. I used the word industrial to express size and nothing else.
I have not said that demand for electricity is going down. What i have said is that they have not been able to keep up with demand even though the rate being charged is high which should motivate them to incraese out put.
Well what i said about prepaid meters is not wrong. With a prepaid meter, you buy electricity from Nawec before you consume it. It is paid for before it is supplied unlike the traditional meters where you are billed after consumption. Is there another way a prepaid meter works. I am no energy expert so please teach me.
As to their move to Co-operative, that is good news that they are consolidating. i apologise for that error. I did not know they had moved.
However, i must state clearly that you have not refuted any of my postings with facts. They are all correct and the substance of the posting still remain intact and stand on solid ground. You must understand that in Yoro Bawol information is slow to come by. The newspapers, i once said are always very old and out of date.
Inaddition, i have responded to Madiba on the issue of gambia college. What i said was that the government was feeding students before 1994. The significance of 1994 is simply regime change in the gambia. A new government staterd in 1994 and its under their watch that free feeding at the college stopped. You have to appreciate my style to understand my postings. I may not be an energy guru, but i sure do know my english.
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Edited by - kondorong on 27 Jul 2006 22:02:52 |
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Newfy
Western Samoa
462 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2006 : 22:34:36
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How did we go from silicon valley to electric generators?
Wonder what the plan is for Gambia Silicon Valley (GSV). How is it to be implemented? |
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ranga
USA
149 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jul 2006 : 22:48:01
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Thinking about electricity, are there hydroelectric power plants on the river Gambia, perhaps up river? Power consumption for computers has become a big issue in Silicon Valley. The cpu makers Intel and AMD are competing to make their processors less power hungry. There are even highway bill boards touting how much money could be saved if users used AMD chips. Good news in general for Gambia I guess.
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T.K. "Ranga" Rengarajan
Founder, Geoseed Project
http://www.geoseedproject.com
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brusubi
Netherlands
43 Posts |
Posted - 02 Aug 2006 : 00:07:45
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There is a big damproject on the way on the border of Guinnee Conakry and Senegal in the Fouto Djalon mountains, the Sambangalou dam,
The hydro electrical plant will produce electricity for all 4 countries involved, both the Guinnees, Senegal and Gambia
But it can bring more curses then blessings for Gambia I fear.
Read all about the problems in this report http://home.student.utwente.nl/c.p.m.vanrens/SalineIntrusionInGambiaRiverAfterDamConstruction.pdf
regards
roger |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 02 Aug 2006 : 00:36:51
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It may lead to water shortage in the gambia. Our rivers has its sources from Futa Djallon Mountains in Guinea. having a dam on that route will reduce water in our river, which will also affect irrigation for our rice fields, increased salinity as a result of salt water from the atlantic. Currently the salt water has gone up to farafenni. In addition, it will afect navigation change fish life and stocks, some may die and go extinct because of salt water intrusion as the fresh water is replaced with salt water, a change in fishing styles etc.
Well i have not heard of the project and i dont know what our government is doing to prepare us for the eventual problems. Gambia is a memeber of OMVG responsible for adminstering and water usage in our subregion especially along the river. May be our representative has taken care of our interests and we may not be seriously affected.
It is only a hope. |
Edited by - kondorong on 02 Aug 2006 00:39:50 |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 02 Aug 2006 : 01:24:17
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
It may lead to water shortage in the gambia. Our rivers has its sources from Futa Djallon Mountains in Guinea. having a dam on that route will reduce water in our river, which will also affect irrigation for our rice fields, increased salinity as a result of salt water from the atlantic. Currently the salt water has gone up to farafenni. In addition, it will afect navigation change fish life and stocks, some may die and go extinct because of salt water intrusion as the fresh water is replaced with salt water, a change in fishing styles etc.
Brusibi/Kondorong. you have nothing to fear. nothing will happen. the link Brusibi posted is simply a link by a postgraduate student, nothing more. this should not be taken as fact.
Kondorong your reaction is alarming. extinction, salinity, bla bla ? you seem so sure of what you are saying.
no fish is going to get extinct. which species? what are you talking about? first you must know that saline intrusion varies with the climate. it falls back during the rainy season when the river is 'full' and comes up during the dry season.infact a dam can push it back permanently because you have a reservoir behind the dam as a source of water all year round!!!!!!!!!!!. so more rice fields for you.
secondly, the River Gambia comes from Guinea yes, but along the way other rivers add on to it especially in eastern senegal it enters the gambia as one river. who told you that if you Dam a river you reduce the flowrate???? where did you hear that??? obvioulsy depending on what the dam is for(electricty or irrigation) you can regulate the output. there is no evidence that the flowrate downstream will be reduced???
thirdly the work posted by the student is inaccurate if you study it carefully. furthermore he is infact relying on the work of the Real consultants not his own work.
lets not be reactionary, similar Dams have been built in many countries. Manantali in Mali supplies Dakar,Bamako and Mauritania.
if we have the moeny the dam will/must be built. |
Edited by - njucks on 02 Aug 2006 01:33:53 |
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