Moving forward, the Vice President and his team will also be at the forefront of overseeing the implementation of this massive project, which promises to revolutionize Sierra Leone’s energy sector
Reports from Washington have confirmed that the U.S. Congress has finally approved the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact grant of $480 million to Sierra Leone, with the formal signing expected to take place this Friday 27 September 2024.
The country’s President, Julius Maada Bio, who is currently with his delegation in New York for the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly meetings, is likely to sign the agreement.
This substantial grant is earmarked for addressing Sierra Leone’s critical electricity challenges, including the development of a 225KV transmission backbone from Newton to the provinces, system reinforcement in Freetown, and the construction of key substations in Makeni and other towns. It also aims to reform key national institutions like the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) and the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC).
Central to securing this historic grant is the pivotal role played by Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, along with his team, particularly Ndeye Koroma and the dedicated staff of the Sierra Leone Compact Development Unit, housed within the Office of the Vice President. Their leadership and relentless efforts were crucial in navigating the compact’s development, ensuring that the priorities identified through constraint analyses aligned with the country’s energy needs.
Moving forward, the Vice President and his team will also be at the forefront of overseeing the implementation of this massive project, which promises to revolutionize Sierra Leone’s energy sector. Their involvement in supervising and ensuring the effective rollout of the MCC compact will be key to achieving the envisioned improvements in the country’s electricity infrastructure.
The MCC Board had expressed hope that the $480 million compact would build on Sierra Leone’s continued commitment to energy sector reform, a key component of the country’s MCC threshold program that concluded in 2021, while strengthening the foundation of its energy sector for future growth and sustainability.
Sierra Leoneans eagerly anticipate the impact of this grant, which will mark a significant step toward improving the country’s energy landscape.
