The Minister of Energy, Cyril Arnold Grant, has acknowledged the limitations of Sierra Leone’s current power system while outlining a pragmatic approach to expanding reliable electricity access nationwide.

Speaking on AYV’s Wake Up Sierra Leone, Minister Grant said that while the government has the technical capacity to provide continuous electricity, it cannot immediately extend 24-hour power supply to all eight million residents.

In a candid assessment, the minister framed the challenge as one of scale and sequencing rather than capability. “We are able to provide 24-hour electricity, but we are not going to be able to provide 24-hour electricity to eight million people in Sierra Leone now,” he said, stressing that nationwide uninterrupted supply will require phased investments and time.

He noted that the ministry is deliberately managing public expectations, distinguishing between what can be delivered in the short term and what will require further planning, financing, and coordination.

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The minister’s remarks are likely to prompt calls from citizens, businesses, and development partners for greater clarity, including realistic timelines for incremental coverage, criteria for prioritising regions, funding strategies for major power projects, and the role of renewable and decentralised energy solutions.

Minister Grant’s statement reframes the national electricity challenge in practical terms: while the capacity to deliver 24-hour power exists in principle, extending it to every resident will be a gradual process dependent on sustained investment, planning, and execution.

The coming months will test whether this realism is matched by a clear, funded roadmap with measurable milestones.