By: Precious Miracle Kargbo Snr
A vessel carrying the first turbine and generator for the Nant Power Project has arrived in Freetown, marking a major milestone in the development of Sierra Leone’s first large-scale independent power plant.
The equipment will be installed at the Kissy Terminal, where a 108.4-megawatt thermal power plant is currently under construction.
The Nant Power Project reached financial close in November 2024, securing approximately USD 292 million in debt financing from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, USD 40 million from the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, and USD 85 million in equity from TCQ Power and Anergi Group.
Once operational, the facility is expected to nearly double Sierra Leone’s electricity generation capacity and provide reliable baseload power under a 22-year Power Purchase Agreement.
According to Abu Kamara, General Manager of the Nant Power Project, the plant will significantly strengthen national energy security and support economic growth by delivering more dependable electricity.
Construction is ongoing, with the first power from the Nant facility projected for the third quarter of 2027. The arrival of the turbine and generator represents a critical step toward achieving that target.