Bumbuna Hydro-Electric Power Plant Partially Halts Power Supply to Freetown

Bumbuna Hydro-Electric Power Plant has halted its supply of power to the capital Freetown due to maintenance work in Lunsar and Waterloo.

In a notice to the public the company that runs the operation of the dam, Salcost Sierra Leone said that they will be working on transmission line tower No. 162 in Lunsar to Waterloo on Saturday from 7 in the morning to 1 in the afternoon.

They said similar work will continue also on Sunday.

“Again on Sunday, 4^th June 2023 from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM on tower No. 73 of Waterloo to Freetown section,” the company said.

After the work, the dam’s 161kV transmission line will be “energised”.

The company said that the dam will be able to supply on Bumbuna town and Makeni city during the maintenance period.

“Only Bumbuna to Freetown 161kV line will be switched off and grounded at Bumbuna, Kajida, Sunbird and Freetown substations,” Salcost said.

Days after the notice was issued, parts of the capital have already been experiencing blackouts.

Some locals in the city have expressed dissatisfaction blaming the Electricity Distribution and Supply Agency (EDSA).