By: Saidu Jalloh
In a landmark move for Sierra Leone’s energy sector, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella and his team unveiled Mission 300 an ambitious \$3 billion energy reform blueprint at the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town. The presentation captivated an audience of over 6,000 global investors, development partners, and industry leaders.
Mission 300 is a transformative five-year plan designed to double electricity access by 2030, with a strategic focus on renewable energy, off-grid solutions, and sustainable industrial development. Of the nearly $3 billion in targeted funding, \$1 billion is earmarked for private sector investment in Sierra Leone’s energy value chain.
The presentation was led by Madam Ndeye Koroma and supported by Mr. Peter Kaindanneh, under the joint leadership of Minister of Finance Sheku Fantamadi Bangura and Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, who serves as Energy Sector Lead and Chair of both the Energy Governance and Coordination Group and the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security (PI-CREF).
Providing overarching strategic direction is His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, who also serves unprecedentedly as Sierra Leone’s Minister of Energy, signaling the government’s highest level of commitment to energy sector reform.
Mission 300 has already begun attracting strong support from international partners, including the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), and the Rockefeller Foundatio*. Key focus areas of the plan include: Expanding transmission and distribution infrastructure, scaling up power generation for residential and industrial use, providing energy solutions for priority sectors such as mineral processing and value addition
The plan is expected to generate thousands of jobs, boost government revenue, and raise household incomes ushering in a new era of inclusive, energy-driven economic growth.
Investors at the forum praised Sierra Leone for its bold vision and structured, reform-oriented approach. Mission 300’s partnership model which brings all efforts under a unified, government-led framework was described as a “transformational shift” in how energy investments are coordinated and implemented.
“Access to affordable and reliable electricity is a game-changer for Sierra Leone,” said one investor. “Mission 300 gives us confidence the structure is there, the commitment is real, and the investment opportunities are clear.”
As global interest grows, Sierra Leone is poised to make a giant leap toward universal energy access lighting homes, powering industries, and paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable future.