Alhaji Kanja Sesay, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Energy, has stated that electricity and energy are significant driving forces in any country’s socio-economic development and has implored the House of Parliament to ratify a Power Purchase Agreement relating to the 148.5MW Freetown Generation Project, which was laid before the Honorable House on December 16, 2021.
President Julius Maada Bio had prioritised the area of energy as one of his administration’s focal points, according to Alhaji Kanja Sesay, who was speaking to Members of Parliament in the Well of Parliament. He added that scaling up access to electricity was critical to helping the New Direction, administration achieves its agenda of transforming Sierra Leone’s economy.
“In order to actualize this goal and assure efficient and effective service delivery, the electricity sector roadmap 2018-2030 aims to raise power generating capacity from 100 MW of installed capacity to 1800 MW,” Sesay stated.
He stated that the Sierra Leone government had worked tirelessly with project sponsors to construct the Western Area Power Generation Project, which will greatly improve energy supply, service, and dependability in Freetown and its surroundings. He went on to say that Melele Power Limited and TCQ Power Limited, like equity holders, will fund and develop the project.
The Minister of Energy informed the House that the United States International Development Finance Corporation, EFC, was spending around US $217 million as the only lender, making it the greatest US investment in Sierra Leone and reinforcing Sierra Leone’s connections with America.
“The Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Finance and EDSA jointly signed the contract for the 148.5MW Western Area Power Generation Project to supply, install, construct and commission a thermal power plant at Kissy for twenty years,” he concluded, while also highlighting the project sites, its environmental friendliness, its various components, and the social and job opportunities it would provide for Sierra Leoneans.
Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Nyuma, commended the Minister for his exemplary leadership and his eloquent presentation, noting that the agreement was environmental and consumer-friendly.
Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Chernor Maju Bah described the project as credible and thanked the Minister and his technical team for their dedication and professionalism.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy, Hon. Kekura Vandi said the project was a good one for the country and catalogued the social and economic benefits such a huge investment in the energy sector would accrue to the country.
