The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General A.I. Bangura, has held a high-level meeting with the Minister of Energy, Hon. Cyril A. Grant, to explore a strategic partnership on power generation and the solarization of military barracks.
The meeting, held on Wednesday at the Ministry of Energy Conference Room in Freetown, brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Energy, as well as representatives of Defence Enterprise Solutions (DES), SCG Deck and FASOSMART.
Lt. Gen. Bangura presented the RSLAF’s vision of achieving greater energy self-reliance across military barracks. He noted that the barracks currently consume significant amounts of unmetered electricity without corresponding tariff payments, placing a substantial financial burden on the state.
He said the RSLAF is seeking to transition military barracks to off-grid solar micro-grids equipped with prepaid metering systems. According to the CDS, the initiative would improve energy accountability, reduce waste and support the Government’s efforts to promote energy efficiency among Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Defence Enterprise Solutions (DES), the commercial arm of the Ministry of Defence with interests in agriculture, energy, construction and road development, has reportedly been engaging the Ministry of Energy on the proposed partnership for the past 10 months.
The meeting also considered several proposed power-generation projects, including a 100-megawatt utility-scale solar project to be developed on two adjacent 50-megawatt plots under a Build-Operate-Transfer model.
Other proposals include a 250-megawatt gas-fired power plant intended to provide baseload capacity to the national grid, and a 300-megawatt wastewater-to-energy project, with an initial 50-megawatt pilot proposed at no financial cost to the Government of Sierra Leone.
SCG Deck, whose engineers have undertaken electrification projects in Guinea, informed the meeting that pre-feasibility and interconnection studies, as well as draft Power Purchase Agreements, have been completed. The company added that geotechnical soil testing is currently underway.
According to SCG Deck, subject to formal agreement and the completion of the required processes, the first 50-megawatt solar phase could be commissioned within 12 to 18 months.
Responding to the proposals, Energy Minister Hon. Cyril A. Grant welcomed the initiative and commended the RSLAF leadership for what he described as a forward-looking approach to reducing state expenditure and improving efficiency.
The Minister, however, stressed that all new Independent Power Producer projects must comply with Government’s policy requirements, particularly those relating to utility solvency, affordable electricity tariffs and long-term sustainability.
The two sides agreed on several immediate steps, including the nomination of a Technical Focal Point by the Ministry of Energy and the submission of a complete technical and financial package by SCG Deck and DES within 14 days.
They also agreed to establish a Joint Technical and Financial Evaluation Committee, involving the Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission, to assess the proposed tariff structure and the capacity of the national grid to accommodate the planned generation.
The meeting concluded with a commitment by both sides to continue working together in the national interest towards improving access to stable, affordable and sustainable electricity in Sierra Leone.