By: Audrey Raymonda John
One of the biggest mining companies in Kono District, Eastern Sierra Leone, Koidu Limited had expressed happiness to be the first extractive industry to sign an energy purchase agreement with the Ministry of Energy, under the astute leadership of the Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay.
Making a brief statement in appreciation of the implementation of the energy deal which was signed on October last year to mark the day Koidu Limited was officially connected to the CLSG grid at a ceremony which was graced by distinguished government authorities from the Energy Ministry and various traditional heads, including Paramount Chiefs, General Manager for Koidu Limited, Rocco Vermeulen said “My Company is not only more than delighted to be the number one to sign and implement such a big energy deal, but the ceremony had also served as a foundation or road-map for showcasing Sierra Leone to foreign investments.
The General Manager assured that the partnership between the company and the Energy Ministry would be sustainable one. It could be remembered that on the 8th October, 2022, the Ministry of Energy and Koidu Limited signed a Power Purchase Agreement to enable the company take energy from the CLSG grid for industrial use.
Despite the energy purchase agreement between the two parties, the indegenes and the entire residents of Kono District had so much respect for the management of Koidu Limited due to their readiness and willingness to always respond to issues of Corporate Social Responsibilities and also given scholarships to deserving Kono pupils that wanted to study to university level.
In the area of empowering Peoples With Disabilities (PWDs), Koidu Limited is almost completed the construction of the Kono Blind School. Performing the formal connection to the CLSG grid, Minister Kanja Sesay hipped praises on Koidu Limited for taking the lead in such a development program, describing the company as the first to take electricity beyond the normal borders of just providing domestic electricity.
He further labeled the commissioning ceremony as a means to fulfill President Bio’s desire to help industries with industrial electricity with the objective of enhancing foreign direct investments and he called on other mining companies like Sierra Diamonds, Wong Mining, Marampa Mines and Meya to ask for the same agreement and partnership.
In his presentation, Director General for EDSA, Abu Kamara maintained that electricity always goes with development and recognized the energy Minister’s efforts to achieve the President Bio energy aspiration and he encouraged the direct beneficiaries to own and protect the facility.
The Paramount Chief of Tankoro Chiefdom, Paul Saquee who welcomed Minister Sesay and entourage on behalf of colleague paramount chiefs who were present expressed gratitude and thankfulness to Minister Sesay for bringing sustainable energy distribution in to their localities.
“This is a historic and trans formative moment” he described the occasion and thanked the Government of Sierra Leone for providing what he described as a safe and reliable energy supply for his district. He emphasized on the manner in which Kono had been placed at the center of attention in the New Direction administration policies and programs.
Other important personalities, including the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Gbetuwa who earlier made an overview of the ceremony expressed similar sentiments.
