By: Audrey Raymonda John
His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio met with the Vice President for Africa at the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAAP) on Wednesday, September 25th, in New York. The meeting, which was facilitated by PI-CREF, provided an opportunity for both individuals to discuss progress in the country’s energy sector.
The engagement included Chief Minister David Sengeh, Minister of Finance, Sheku Fantamadi Bangura, PI-CREF’s Pete Kaindaneh, Chief Technical Adviser, and Anthony Kamara, PI-CREF Director of Partnerships, Communications and Outreach.
President Bio welcomed GEAAP’s decision to return to Sierra Leone again and offered his assurances about the current reforms. “Energy is critical for our development, and when we were confronted with a crisis, I was determined to bring about positive changes and lead from the front,” he emphasized.
Joseph Nganga, previously Executive Director of Power & Climate Africa at The Rockefeller Foundation, confirmed that GEAAP is excited to return to Sierra Leone after they decided to pack up and leave because the environment was not conducive.
He noted that he was pleased with the work that Dr. Yumkella is doing, the coordination and focus he has brought to the sector, and President Bio’s vision for the country. “Dr. Yumkella, you have a resourceful and dedicated person, and we are excited to work with him to ensure the energy sector reaches its potential and succeeds,” he said.
Nganga confirmed his participation in the Climate Resilience and Energy Transition (CRET 2024) in November.
For their part, both the Chief Minister and the Minister of Finance assured Nganga of the government’s full support in turning around the energy sector. Said the Chief Minister, “We will tackle every challenge and provide the required solutions needed to make the sector work for our people.” Minister Bangura underscored that the government is committed to using its own resources and leveraging other financial resources.
Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Chairperson of the Presidential Initiative Climate Change, Renewable, and Food Security, took the opportunity to inform President Bio about the support GEAPP, which currently offers EDSA, including the appointment of a Chief Operating Officer, support to the Minigrid sector, among others. He noted that he is excited that the strategic partnership between Sierra Leone and GEAPP will continue to flourish because both are determined to help the sector in the interest of the Sierra Leonean populace. GEAAP was also instrumental in the feasibility studies of the Dodo Hydropower Dam.
The Government of Sierra Leone assured Nganga of its commitment to its full rehabilitation because it is a priority project, and its impact will be immense for the three cities of Bo, Kenema, and Kono. Chairman Yumkella further noted that with Dodo’s rehabilitation, it can increase its generation capacity from 6 MW to 12 MW.
