Labour Ministry Inspects 108.4MW NANTS Power Project Over Workers’ Rights and Safety
Aminata Koroma The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security has intensified its engagement with major development projects, with a focus on ensuring workers’ rights, safety and welfare, following a visit to the 108.4-megawatt power project under construction in Kissy, Freetown.
The visit, led by Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Umaru Napoleon Koroma, provided an opportunity for the Ministry to assess the project’s progress, employment arrangements, workplace safety measures and conditions of service for workers.
Speaking during the engagement, Minister Koroma said the Ministry’s responsibility goes beyond ensuring that people are employed and earn a living, stressing the need to guarantee safe and decent working environments.
He noted that direct engagement with employers and workplace inspections remain essential to identifying challenges faced by workers and ensuring compliance with established labour standards.
The Minister described the power project as an important private-sector investment in Sierra Leone’s development, particularly in efforts to address the country’s persistent electricity challenges. He said the Ministry was interested in understanding the project’s progress and exploring areas of collaboration to ensure its safe and timely completion.
During a presentation, Karim Nasser, Executive Chairman of Nants Energy Project, disclosed that the facility is a 108.4-megawatt combined-cycle power plant being developed through a partnership between two companies, with ownership stakes of 72 per cent and 28 per cent respectively. He noted that the ownership structure is expected to change after construction is completed.
Nasser described the project as a major private-sector investment undertaken without a government guarantee, adding that its value represents approximately four per cent of Sierra Leone’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He revealed that the project secured US$292 million in financing from the United States International Development Finance Corporation, alongside US$120 million in insurance support, while the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development contributed US$40 million. Its financing structure also received international recognition through an IJGlobal award in 2024.
On employment, Nasser highlighted the project’s efforts to promote local participation and women’s inclusion, reporting that approximately 700 workers are currently involved in construction, with women accounting for nearly 20 per cent of the workforce.
He described the level of female participation as a notable achievement in an industry where women remain underrepresented.
The facility incorporates Siemens technology and currently operates on propane, with plans to transition to natural gas in the future, subject to the necessary arrangements.
Explaining the technology, Nasser said the combined-cycle system uses gas turbines to generate electricity while recovering heat produced during the process to generate steam, which powers an additional turbine to increase electricity output.
He further disclosed that Siemens would oversee the plant’s operations and maintenance, while Shapoorji Pallonji is responsible for the engineering, procurement and construction contract.
Providing an update on the project, he said construction commenced in August 2025, with contractual completion scheduled for the end of August 2027.
Following the presentation, the Ministry’s delegation was scheduled to undergo a safety induction before embarking on a guided tour of the construction site to observe ongoing activities, equipment and infrastructure.
The engagement forms part of the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen workplace monitoring, promote decent employment and ensure that major investments in Sierra Leone uphold workers’ rights and safety standards.
It also highlights the importance of balancing the country’s infrastructure and economic development ambitions with the protection and welfare of the people contributing to those projects.