8 Comments
During the weekly press conference held on March 26th, 2024, Joe-Lahai Sormana, the Director General of Sierra Leone’s Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), shed light on the dire financial situation facing the utility company.
Sormana candidly disclosed that EDSA is grappling with significant losses due to the unsustainable pricing model in place.
Sormana underscored the predicament, stating, “We buy power but we charge our customers less than what we spend to buy power from Karpowership and other sources. So even before we start business, we are already running at a loss.”
The admission from the Director General highlights the deep-rooted financial challenges plaguing EDSA, where the cost of purchasing electricity exceeds the revenue generated from consumers. This revelation has sparked concerns among citizens and stakeholders alike, prompting calls for urgent reforms within the electricity sector.
Sormana further emphasized the limitations imposed by the financial constraints. “We simply cannot provide what we don’t have,” he stated. “Full delivery of the 120 MW Freetown requires is beyond our current network capacity.”
The Director General also brought attention to the issue of electricity theft. “Nine out of ten citizens with access to electricity are either involved in theft themselves or know someone who is,” he claimed. “This widespread practice significantly contributes to EDSA’s financial woes. We are essentially contributing to our own downfall.”
In response to Sormana’s remarks, a concerned citizen took to social media, commenting on the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s Twitter post. The citizen asserted, “It makes no economic sense to buy at a higher price and sell at a low price. The whole EDSA operation needs to be reevaluated. Better so it is good to allow private entities to buy EDSA and supply power to the people.”
Sormana is a criminal lier, the tariff is too higher to people than any other time. Telling us that they bought more than they sell is baseless. They mismanaged everything since they took power.
If EDSA are claiming now that the citizen are stealing electricity well let them monitor and discipline their agents. Cus this is the same agent, consumer Bride to either adjust their meter or to directly connect them to get free light.
I’m sured that consumer have no idea to manipulate on the meter but instead the pay money to those idiot agents to do the manipulation.
So, EDSA blame not the consumers/citizens but your employee/agents/staff.
Thank you.
As a director general I appreciate you very much for your points raised, it seems that the EDSA is fully responsible for the electricity theft as you are rightly said, because your management is so weak that till now you can proofer solution to address this burning issue.
Your regime has raised the tariff till now we’re still not still going forward.
The consumers are buying the EDSA meter and it being installed by EDSA staff if genuinely they are working in the interest of the office not for them selves there will be no way you can not combat electricity theft, even the top up is sold direct from the office or e-money office line.
Mr DG thorough supervision and action should taken on any of your staff involve in bypass of the meter without the notice of the office and correct record should be taken on any event.
My Brothers and sisters some of this people’s are not EDSA workers, we have these community electricians who some of them involving in this act
In my opinion I blame both the management of EDSA and the consumers of electricity in Salone. It’s a technology world they(EDSA) need to search for ways to combat electricity theft using advanced technology if that’s the available solution and also send credible and passionate workers to check the home of every Sierra Leonean consuming electricity and bring to justice all those stealing electricity as example to others.
Where did we go wrong in Sierra Leone, the country is going down every day and night. EDSA is complaining, minister of Education is complaining, minister of finance is complaining, infect all the ministers are complaining. Mismanagement everywhere, even the Government is still complaining so what did they want the citizens to do again ?
Sormana has the bold mind to say the the electricity tariff is lesser🤦♂️.
Don’t you have shame🤷♂️
Head of EDSA Director,God is always with you and your coworkers your family,may your wishes for Sierra Leone be accomplished in Jesus name Amen, you are among Sierra Leonean who lay their life to see our beloved Nation in to a good environment,and today we are seeing your endeavour achievement
Thank you Mr Director good health and long living,
From
Marcus Safea Brima Togba Sipho