3 Gambia Logistics Services

Gambia Logistics Services

The following sections contain information on the logistics services of Gambia

Disclaimer: Registration does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP/Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities. Please Note: WFP/Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse,comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.

3.1 Gambia Fuel

Gambia Fuel

There is no local production; all fuel must be imported from outside

Information may also be found at: My Travel Cost information on Gambia

Seasonal Variations

Seasonal Variations
Are there national priorities in the availability of fuel? (Yes / No)		n/a
Is there a rationing system? (Yes / No)		n/a
Is fuel to lower income/vulnerable groups subsidized? (Yes / No)		There used to be subsidizing of kerosene but that was stopped 5 months ago.
Can the local industry expand fuel supply to meet humanitarian needs? (Yes / No)		n/a
Is it possible for a humanitarian organization to contract directly a reputable supplier/distributor to provide its fuel needs? (Yes / No)		Yes

NOTE:

Local supply (domestic refinery production and imports combined) meets the needs of the country, especially for aviation and ground fuels. There is a supply of ten days available in the country. Significant seasonal variations especially seasonal variations in aviation fuel.

Fuel Transportation

Fuel is carried out by private companies. They each have there own trucks. Transportation infrastructure and fleet is sufficient to handle current domestic needs as well as increased demand from the humanitarian community. There is no local production, all fuel must be imported from outside, but in general there is no shortage of supply. There are suppliers permitted to import fuel into the country:

Global trading group

This company imports fuel on the behave of the Gambia government which is then distributed by several distributors;

Galp
Total
Elton

Castle Imports

This is only company that is allowed to import and distribute the fuel via its own distribution units. There is no local production, all fuel must be imported from outside, but in general there is no shortage of supply.There are suppliers permitted to import fuel into the country:Global trading groupThis company imports fuel on the behave of the Gambia government which is then distributed by several distributors;-Galp-Total-EltonCastle ImportsThis is only company that is allowed to import and distribute the fuel via its own distribution units

Standards, Quality and Testing

Industry Control Measures
Tanks with adequate protection against water mixing with the fuel (Yes / No)	Yes
Filters in the system, monitors where fuel is loaded into aircraft (Yes / No)	Yes
Adequate epoxy coating of tanks on trucks (Yes / No)	Yes
Presence of suitable fire fighting equipment (Yes / No)	Yes

Standards Authority
Is there a national or regional standards authority? (Yes / No)		No
If yes, are the standards adequate/properly enforced? (Yes / No)		n/a
Testing Laboratories
Are there national testing laboratories? (Yes / No)	n/a
Fuel Quality Testing Laboratory –
Name	n/a
Address	n/a
Telephone and Fax	n/a
Contact	n/a
Standards Used n/a

NOTE: There are ongoing meetings to set up a committee that will enforce the standards that are now industry driven.

There are impediments to importation of fuel

The government is the only one who can import fuel. They do that by using Global Trading company who comes with ships to supply the fuel. From there it is distributed to the storage areas. In case the government is not able to meet demand, permits can be issued to import fuel on your own. Otherwise, everything goes via the state.

For information on Gambia fuel contact details, please see the following link:

4.6 Gambia Fuel Provider Contact List

For information on Gambia fuel additional details, please see the following document:

Gambia Fuel Additional Information

Note: The information provided in the attached documents, which has been taken from the old DLCA, does not match the structure of the new LCA and is therefore provided separately.

3.2 Gambia Transporters

Gambia Transporters

This list includes only the transport companies working for WFP who fulfilled the secondary transport questionnaire. Nine transport Companies with a capacity declared of:

78 trucks up to 11 Tons Capacity
86 trucks 11-25 tons capacity
72 tracks over 25 tons capacity
1 truck with crane
1 truck with tail lift
5 containers
3 Flat
6 Warehouse for a total capacity of aprox . 9100 mt

For information on Gambia transporters contact details, please see the following link:

4.7 Gambia Transporter Contact List

3.3 Gambia Additional Service Providers

Gambia Additional Service Providers: Vehicle Rental, Taxi Companies, Freight Forwarding Agents, Handling Equipment, Power Generation and ISPs

For information on Gambia Additional Service Provider contact details, please see the following link:

4.8 Gambia Additional Service Provision Contact List

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

GAMTEL holds the only national gateway and all ISPs lease bandwidth and route their traffic through this Gateway. The Total Internet Bandwidth is 100MB. 100MB of this is leased through SONATEL, the main Telecoms Company in Senegal with connection to the undersea cable and the other 30MB is through satellite. The GAMTEL-SONATEL connection is through a a fibre link to Dakar via Basse (Gambia) and Wellingara (Senegal). A backup microwave link from Banjul to Kaolack and fibre from Kaolack to Dakar is in place.

The National backbone bandwidth (i.e., internet speed from all Points of Presence, PoPs to the Gateway) has a capacity of 2MB. In order to effectively rationalize/optimize the use of the International bandwidth, efforts are far advanced to complete the installation of MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) which will increase the national backbone bandwidth to 34MB. This is expected to be completed by June 2009.

Internet Service Providers
Are there ISPs available? (Yes / No)	Yes
Private or Government	1 Governement and 3 Private: GAMTEL, QUANTUMNET CO. LTD, UNIQUES SOLUTIONS CO. LTD, NETPAGE CO. LTD
Dial-up only (Yes / No)	No
Approximate Rates	Dial-up: 56Kb for Internet Services (Dial Up)
Approximate Rates	Broadband: 128Kb for Internet Services (Wireless) 256Kb for VPN services
Max leasable ‘dedicated’ bandwidth	2MB for Internet Services 4MB for VPN services

For information on Gambia Additional Service Provider contact details, please see the following link:

4.8 Gambia Additional Service Provision Contact List

3.4 Gambia Telecommunications

Gambia Telecommunications

For information on Gambia telecommunications contact details, please see the following link:

4.8 Gambia Additional Service Provision Contact List

4.1 Gambia Government Contact List

Formulation of policy on telecoms services (telephone, GSM and Internet services) is the responsibility of the Department of State for Communication, Information and Information Technology (DoSCIIT). DoSCIIT is responsible for the approval and issue of licenses, issue of frequencies and the collection of the appropriate license and spectrum fees. A government agency PURA (Public Utilities Regulatory Agency) was created by an act of the National Assembly to regulate the sector (in addition to other public utility sectors).

Although telephone/GSM services are available nationwide, there are some areas where low or no coverage are experienced for all the providers. The three operating GSM companies provide normal mobile telephone services (Calling, SMS). COMIUM provides GPRS services. QCELL plans to have Internet and video services as well when they launch.

Telephone Services
Is there an existing landline telephone network? (Yes / No)	Yes. Only one land line operator
Does it allow international calls? (Yes / No)	Yes
On average, number and length of downtime periods	n/a
Mobile phone providers (List)	Yes. GAMTEL (Gambia Telecommunications Co. Limited)
Estimated availability and coverage (Approximate percentage of national coverage)	Nationwide

Telecommunication Regulation

Regulations
Regulations on usage or import of:	Yes / No	Regulating Authority
Satellite	No	There are no regulations regarding what Satellites to connect to. Once a VSAT license is obtained, one can connect to any satellite service provider.
HF Radio	Yes	An authorisation is required which is obtainable from DoSCIIT upon application in writing giving general information such as the reason why it is required, number of repeaters, number of hand held equipment and number of vehicle mounted equipment, simplex or duplex.
UHF/VHF/HF radio: handheld, base and mobile	Yes	An authorisation is required which is obtainable from DoSCIIT upon application in writing giving general information such as the reason why it is required, number of repeaters, number of hand held equipment and number of vehicle mounted equipment, simplex or duplex.
UHF/VHF repeaters	Yes	An authorisation is required which is obtainable from DoSCIIT upon application in writing giving general information such as the reason why it is required, number of repeaters, number of hand held equipment and number of vehicle mounted equipment, simplex or duplex.
GPS	Yes	An authorisation is required which is obtainable from DoSCIIT upon application in writing giving general information such as the reason why it is required, number of repeaters, number of hand held equipment and number of vehicle mounted equipment, simplex or duplex.
VSAT	Yes	A license is required. There are 3 categories of license: 1. Commercial/corporate (Banks) 2. Private non-commercial (diplomatic missions, UN System) 3. Educational (NGOs)
Individual Network Operator Licenses Required n/a Frequency Licenses Required UHF/VHF/HF - Written application for authorization to use and install to DoSCIIT. No license fees required to be paid but spectrum fees are paid annually unless there is a waiver from DoSCIIT VSAT - A license is obtained through filling in a VSAT License application form obtainable from DoSCIIT at a cost of D10, 000.00 (~ US$400) – non refundable. The annual license and frequency spectrum charges will depend on the category of license granted. No import license is required once a license or authorization has been obtained to operate/install any of the above.

Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems

All the UN agencies are connected to one single VHF and HF system housed in UN House, where WFP, UNDP and UNICEF have offices. UNDP, WFP, UNICEF and WHO each have their independent VSATs.

It will be technically feasible for WFP, UNDP and UNICEF to share each others VSAT connection, but some expert configuration has to be made since each of these VSATs has different routing configurations.

Existing UN Telecommunication Systems
Organisations	UNDP	UNICEF	UNAIDS	UNFPA	FAO	UNHCR	WHO
VHF frequencies	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HF frequencies	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Repeaters (Locations)	Yes	Yes	n/a	n/a	Yes	No	Yes
VSAT	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No

For information on Gambia telecommunications contact details, please see the following link:

4.8 Gambia Additional Service Provision Contact List

4.1 Gambia Government Contact List

For information on Gambia telecommunications additional details, please see the following document:

Gambia Telecommunications Additional Details

Note: The information provided in the attached documents, which has been taken from the old DLCA, does not match the structure of the new LCA and is therefore provided separately.