Post a comment
The Chief Minister of the Republic of Sierra Leone, David Moinina Sengeh, has on Friday 25th August 2023 engaged some energy experts and other development bodies to discuss the access to sustainable energy supply and government’s effort and plans to maintenance depleted generators at different locations.
The engagement incorporated officials from the Ministry of Energy, the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority, Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission, Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Information and Civic Education on how to improve energy access in the country.
He expressed government’s commitment to maintenance the generator plants at Black Hall Road, which had a generation capacity of 17 megawatts and the Kingtom Power Stations, which had a generation capacity of 10 megawatts.
“Once they are maintained, we will be able to generate over 20 megawatts of electricity. Similarly, plans are underway for the Dodo Hydro Dam in Kenema to be upgraded,” he informed the energy experts.
Alhaji Kanja Sesay, the Minister of Energy, told the Chief Minister that 54 of the existing solar mini grids were owned by the government, noting that people in rural communities were benefiting from 3 kilowatts per hour for each household from the solar mini grids, adding that, Since January to date, the government of Sierra Leone has spent US$13 million to subsidise energy for Sierra Leonean electricity consumers.
Last year, over 700 billion Leones were given as subsidies by the government, which is an effort to cushion the cost of energy tariff for consumers, according to him, noting that the current tariff rate did not correspond to the exchange rate.
The engagement was seen as vary vital and timely as there are many more the government needs to do in terms of sustainable electricity distribution in the capital Freetown.
