Energy Minister Grant Slams EDSA Over Poor Updates on Persistent Blackouts Across Western Area
Alusine Ahmed Kargbo Minister of Energy Hon. Cyril Grant has criticised the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) for failing to adequately inform the public about prolonged power outages affecting communities across the Western Area, urging the authority to improve communication and accelerate repairs.
Grant made the remarks during an emergency meeting with officials of EDSA, the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC) and the Ministry of Energy in Freetown on Monday 12 October 2026.
The minister expressed concern over recurring electricity disruptions, particularly delays in restoring supply following damage to electricity poles and burnt cables. He maintained that such faults should be resolved within hours rather than take several days, stressing the need for greater accountability, effective supervision and improved service delivery.
He also called on EDSA’s management to take responsibility for the persistent challenges and ensure that consumers receive timely information whenever outages occur.
Responding to the concerns, EDSA’s Head of Distribution and Technical Services, Ing. Chernoh Jalloh, attributed the disruptions partly to overloaded transformers and rising electricity demand from newly developed communities across the Western Area.
Jalloh explained that demand had exceeded the capacity of the existing distribution network, placing additional pressure on the system.
He cited several ongoing projects expected to improve electricity supply, including the Peninsula–Waterloo transmission line, funded by Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the World Bank-funded Energy Sector Utility Reform Project.
He also highlighted the NANT 108-megawatt generation project, scheduled for its first commissioning in the first quarter of 2027, and the 40-megawatt Innovent solar project in Benguema, which is expected to be completed in January 2027.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to address immediate electricity supply problems and accelerate long-term interventions to strengthen the country’s power infrastructure.
The discussions placed emphasis on the need to improve communication with consumers, reduce delays in repairing faults and expand the capacity of the electricity network to meet growing demand.