Sierra Leone’s Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, on 20th March 2023 held an interactive session or engagement with mini-grid operators to relay the concerns of beneficiary communities concerning the operational efficacy of mini-grids across the country.
Mr Sesay lauded the efforts of the operators and commended the unprecedented revolution that has taken place in the mini-grid or solar energy space.
“We do appreciate the work that you have been doing because, through the mini-grids, we have been able to increase access to energy.
We have been able to reach places in rural communities, which without mini-grids, we would not have been there,” he stated, adding that this has remarkably transformed the economies of these places.
The Minister of Energy however pointed out that the transformation in the sector was threatened by nationwide reports of the operational ineffectiveness of some facilities and operators, adding that His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, who is on a nationwide tour, has received unpleasant reports about the inefficiency of the solar-powered batteries.
Mr. Sesay said that it was with the view to finding answers or solutions to these questions or concerns that he had summoned them to the engagement.
Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Emmanuel Junisa, in a detailed report on nationwide concerns, said Cabinet and the Office of National Security, ONS, had flagged the issue of the ineffectiveness of mini-grids and had even labelled it a national security threat.
He particularly expressed concerns over Package II, stating that the Ministry was not pleased with the adverse findings or the recent development in the mini-grid sector.
PowerGen Country Manager, Hassan Suma, spoke about a variety of challenges that they are faced with in their operational areas, including but not limited to illegal connections and the doctoring of meters.
Mr Suma however assured me that his company had taken note of the concerns and was going to take steps to correct the anomaly.
A representative from PowerLeone, Emmanuel Harding, acknowledged the severity of the concerns and promised to address them. He appealed to the Minister for concessions of sole sourcing to urgently replace worn-out batteries.
The energy sector reforms continue.
