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2013

QCell-NAWEC partnership to ease access to cash power

Mafugi Ceesay

The cellular company QCell and the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) have taken a step to easing access to cash power on Tuesday.

The two companies in a public-private partnership on Feb. 5, 2013 launch the “QPOWER” – a service to be offered by the GSM company that would allow people in The Gambia to use their SIM cards to buy cash power the Qcell Airtime Vouchers or simply buy a specially designed QPOWER Vouchers.

Speaking at the launch held at the QCell office along the Kairaba Avenue, the company’s Chief Executive Officer Muhammed Jah said: “QCell’s talent to innovate, and seriousness in wanting to make a difference, coupled with the need for NAWEC to make public utilities evenly distributed and easily accessible, brought together the two companies.” 

He said the result of this collaboration will come to be seen by many as the single, most transforming experience they have had for a long time.

The move means electricity consumers in the tiny West African country will no longer have “to endure the inconvenience of long queues at electricity purchasing points” – an issue that have brought so much discomfort over the years.

Mr Jah said the two companies will from now on “bring electricity at your finger tips”, citing that in many households, at least one person is using a Qcell SIM card on his or her mobile phone.

Easy steps

He explain that people can register their cash power meters with their mobile phones in barely two minutes and the system will be ready to go, enabling you to purchase cash power from the comfort of your homes or offices or even whiles on the road.

He said customers will be rewarded with Qcell airtime bonus whenever they make use of the QPOWER services. 

NAWEC’s Director Ebrima Sanyang said the day marks another significant development in the drive to improve access to cash power for valuable customers - many of whom trek for a considerable distance to purchase cash power.

He said the system is user friendly and all that is required is for one to be a registered QCell customer. He also said NAWEC is open to partners who would be interested technically feasible partnerships.

“NAWEC over the years have been approached by several organizations to act as third party agents but so far, QCEL is the only one that has taken the initiative to invest single handedly to procure the necessary infrastructure at no cost to NAWEC,” Mr Sanyang