Construction of a power line to supply Guinea-Bissau with electricity produced on the Gambia River, involving three other countries in the region, is due to be discussed Friday in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau’s Minister for Natural Resources said.

In a statement cited by Portuguese news agency Lusa, Minister Daniel Gomes noted that the meeting is similar to others that have taken place in the other countries involved in the project – Senegal, Gambia and Guinea-Conakry.

“These meetings are being conducted with some urgency, with a view to launching the tender for construction of the line,” as power production should start at “the end of the first half of 2015.”

The Organisation for the Exploration of the Gambia River (“Mise en Valeur Organisation du Fleuve Gambia”) is building the Kaleta dam in Guinea-Conakry and has signed a contract for construction of a second dam in Sambagalou in Senegal, with part of its 185 square-kilometre lagoon in Guinea-Conakry.

Environmental and social impact studies, such as the one due to be analysed Friday in Bissau, “are considered essential by the technical and financial partners for construction of the line and transformer stations, which will make it possible to use the energy,” said Daniel Gomes.

The Organisation for the Exploration of the Gambia River was established in 1978 to meet the energy, food security and communications needs of the four countries involved. (macauhub/GW)