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The United States has disbursed the first portion of a $292 million loan through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to finance the construction and operation of a 105-megawatt combined-cycle power plant in Freetown.
The Nant Energy Project, developed by the CECA SL Generation Limited consortium, is poised to nearly double Sierra Leone’s electricity generation capacity.
This landmark initiative, the first large-scale independent power project in Sierra Leone, is backed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Bank for Investment and Development (EBID). It will complement the $480 million power infrastructure project funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact, signaling a major step toward Sierra Leone’s energy security.
“The scale and impact of the Nant Project make it a standout example of what DFC and partner institutions like EBID can accomplish when working with private-sector partners,” said DFC CEO Scott Nathan. He highlighted the project’s significance as the largest single-country energy capacity increase in DFC’s history.
The Nant Project aims to reduce Sierra Leone’s reliance on high-cost, temporary energy solutions and mitigate vulnerabilities tied to imported fuels and weather-dependent energy sources. According to Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, Chairman of the Energy Governance Coordination Group, the project aligns with Sierra Leone’s Just Energy Transition and Green Growth Plan, offering a sustainable alternative to high-emission energy sources.
With a long-term goal of creating one gigawatt of energy capacity over the next decade, the project underscores U.S. commitment to fostering economic growth, job creation, and innovation in Sierra Leone. By expanding electricity access and diversifying energy sources, the Nant Project promises to drive sustainable development and resilience across the nation.
