The Electricity provider, the Bumbuna Hydro, will shut down temporarily for a period of two weeks to undertake very necessary maintenance in readiness for full operations in the rainy season.

This information was reported by the New Citizen Tolpngbo Newspaper in its Tuesday 13th May 2025, publication.

The Bumbuna hydroelectric facility located in the Tonkolili District Northern Province is the biggest electricity investment in Sierra Leone. When at its full peak in the rainy season, Bumbuna generates close to fifty megawatts of electricity which is fed into the national grid.

According to the publication the temporary closure is a yearly activity to give the company respite for effective maintenance of the equipment at the electricity facility.

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Once the company shuts down temporarily for two weeks, its closure will not automatically cause massive shortage of electricity. The karpowershp, which provides close to fifty megawatts of electricity, will still be operational. Also true, according to an EDSA spokesperson, the thermal electricity facility at Kingtom will be operational, as the solar energy at Makoth and other places will also be operational.

Bumbuna Hydro, operated by the Italian company WEBUILD, has been the main source of electricity in Sierra Leone since the dam was commissioned in 2008.

Over the years, Bumbuna has been the major source of electricity supply to Makeni, Magburaka and Freetown.

The temporary closure will only partly affect Makeni and Magburaka, as the thermal powerhouse in Makeni will be a reasonable source that will serve Makeni and Magburaka until Bumbuna recommences operations.

The temporary closure will also not severely affect the South and the East of the country, as energy provided, including Dodo, will continue to serve that part of the country.

To a large extent, electricity availability is improving gradually, although there is need for government to invest more in the area of electricity generation, as some observers believe that the Yeben electricity program, known as Bumbuna II, should also be treated seriously as a very serious potential source of energy.”

The total period of closure will last for ten days, a necessary move to save the life of the Bumbuna Hydroelectric equipment.