The Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay has revealed in a Steering Committee on Energy that President Julius Maada Bio had a great interest on the provision of reliable, available, sustainable and affordable electricity to the people of Sierra Leone.
He urged members of the multifaceted committee to positively impact energy sector reforms at different intervals to promote and maintain a sustainable plan throughout the country respectively. Making this assertion, the minister did say;
“In fact, His Excellency’s emphasis on this premium is in line with the mission and vision of the Ministry of Energy to develop policies and programs for the provision of energy on a constant and affordable basis and to create an enabling environment for the provision of modern energy services for the increased productivity, wealth creation and improved quality of life for all Sierra Leoneans,” the Minister stated.
He furthered that, the delivery of energy and energy access deals with the engagements and collaborations with donor partners through a vehicle such as the Energy Steering Committee which was critically important.
Sesay said the Steering Committee’s work will help accomplish the commitment of the President of Sierra Leone and underscore the mission of the Ministry of Energy at all times to ensure effectiveness.
“The work of the Steering Committee will ensure that investments are well aligned and targeted to the long-term strategic goals of government. The National Electrification Plan and Strategy will provide direction to the Committee,” he summed up
Abdu Muwonge, the World Bank Country Manager for Serra Leone maintained that as information sharing was critical at some points it is worth noting that Sierra Leone was endowed with huge energy potentials.
He said these opportunities need to be unlocked through the right partnerships, investments and policies.
Muwonge added that knowledge of the sector and the financial viability of EDSA and EGTC was necessary for the Committee.
He said the meeting would give them the opportunity to have discussion on the issues relating to energy.
In his statement, the Head of Millenium Challenge Coordination Unit at the Ministry of Energy, Dr. Abdulai Jalloh said that the Committee would have a structured quarterly meetings as well as focus on reviewing the technical advice for central planning, coordinating investments to reduce technical and commercial losses and identifying and implementing key reforms to improve the sector’s financial outlook in the first one year of the program.