The Gambia Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Act, 2001 provides for the establishment of PURA, a multi-sector regulatory authority, to regulate the activities of providers of certain public utilities amongst them energy services (electricity, petroleum and gas), communications services (telecommunications, broadcasting and postal services), water and sewerage services and transport services (on land, water and in the air). 

Sectors currently regulated by PURA are:

COMMUNICATION

There are four service providers in the communication sector; GAMTEL (fixed line), GAMCEL, AFRICELL and COMIUM (GSM). A third GSM service provider, Q Cell, bringing the total communication service providers to five will become operational in early 2009. Read more.

ELECTRICITY

The regulation of the electricity sector also falls under the purview of PURA. During the past three years significant development has occured in the sector. The sector is governed by The Electricity Act  which sets out obligations required in liberalising and improving the overall generation, supply and distribution of electricity. Read more....

WATER & SEWERAGE

The responsibility for potable water service provision rests with NAWEC, whose activities are largely limited to the Greater Banjul Area and the 10 Provincial Growth Centres. Water in the Greater Banjul Area is obtained from underground sources.  Read more...

Sectors not yet regulated under PURA's mandate and to be regulated in the near future are:

• Broadcasting

• Postal Services

• Transport Services

The Key Functions of PURA as provided for under the PURA Act 2001, are to

• Provide guidelines on rates and fees for the provision of regulated public services
• Examine rates and fees chargeable for the provision of regulated public services
• Protect the interest of consumers and of public utilities
• Monitor and enforce standards of performance by public utilities
• Initiate and conduct investigations into standards of services by public utilities
• Promote fair competition among public utilities
• Conduct studies relating to economies and efficiency in the provision of regulated public services to consumers
• Collect and compile data on regulated public services and their provision necessary for the performance of the Authority’s functions
• Provide advice in respect of regulated public services and their provision
• Maintain a register (which may be in electronic form) of public utilities and the services they provide
• Publish appropriate information relating to the Authority’s functions and activities
• Recommend and administer, in accordance with the PURA Act, 2001, a licensing system in respect of public utilities
• Provides advice or assistance to a public utility to assist or enable the public utility to comply with a requirement of this Act or of any license
• Prepare or cause to be prepared any relevant documentation (including drafts of any required legislation) necessary to give the Authority the power to regulate public utilities in accordance with the PURA Act 2001; and,
• Perform such other functions as may be imposed on it by any other legislation.