January 22, 2021
SULAIMAN STOM KOROMA
The issue of providing constant and consistent electricity has been a problem for successive governments. It is not difficult to see the links between politicians building campaign promises around provision of electricity. The gap between promise making and fulfillment has been an uphill task.
It is refreshing that this trend is changing for the better under the new government. We agree that the government should not just distribute energy, but must ensure the provision of modern energy wherewithal to result to increase power generation.
There are always socio-economic benefits flowing from this service delivery commitment of government. It will enhance business and commerce, creating job opportunities and cascade into household and community resilience building to contribute to national growth.
It is worth noting that, Electricity generated is estimated at less than 100 MW, this falls drastically short of the estimated power requirements of about 300 MW to 500 MW for the country.
The transmission of this electricity poses a very serious challenge since the over 40-year-old network can only carry 46 MW, making the situation more ridiculous.
During the 2018 elections, the SLPP presidential candidate Dr. Julius Maada Bio on page 20 of his manifesto spoke of his logical tactics of finding a lasting solution to the problem of electricity in the country. Part of his expressed strategy is to Speedily set up a regulatory agency for the water and electricity sectors, Exploit the country’s renewable energy resource base (biomass, solar, and wind), Rehabilitate/restore district headquarters power stations and their associated transmission and distribution networks, Promote energy efficiency measures nationwide Institute a Rural Electricity Board and a Rural Electricity Fund to promote electrification of rural areas to make electricity readily and widely available in rural areas.
Julius Maada Bio is on record to have said that he will promote the use of renewables and modern forms of energy like Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG): encourage the start of mini-hydro schemes, solar energy schemes and provide special financial incentives to companies in this sector, Follow up on the reform of the power sector Participate in the West African Power Pool Encourage mining companies and other major industries to sell excess power to the national grid for the supply of power to contiguous areas, Enhance female access to modern energy by investing in rural electrification, clean cooking fuel, and household energy needs.
Government after government has tried through different projects to increase the transmission capacity of electricity, but this still seems farfetched. The process of getting the equipment and the provision of electricity, are delivered at a very high cost.
We can understand the crux of the problem from the issue of less investment and insignificant private participation in rural energy development. It is estimated that about 2% of households have access to electricity. Almost 70% of power consumption in Sierra Leone are the industrial or commercial establishments, yet most investors blame the lack of electricity as a factor responsible for the low level of investments in the country.
In many parts of the country especially in rural areas, investors and business people prefer to use their generators during their hours of work, investors have chosen to operate their thermal generators rather than face frequent power interruptions.
To ensure more investors come to do business in Sierra Leone, expand the trade and provide adequate electricity for its citizens, the PAOPA government of Julius Maada Bio has been busy ensuring Bo and Kenema Network Rehabilitation and Expansion Project is up and running, the whole of Freetown and its environs are now enjoying stable and consistent electricity, which has improved the way of doing business and trade in not only the capital city but other major towns.
Nearby communities like, Mambo, Hamilton, Gloucester village and other places are now enjoying electricity progressively. We have also seen the rehabilitation of five sub-stations in Brookfield, Congo Cross, King Tom, Lumley, and Blackhall Road. Of these substations, three are already completed. The 11KV overhead lines and the old Ring Main Unit, which contributed greatly to line losses, are being replaced. The erection of poles to link these substations is also underway. The completion of this project will improve network stability and reduce technical losses in Freetown.
For the provinces, areas like Makeni as always, is enjoying 24 hours electricity, PortLoko is also enjoying it, Kono is working on coming onboard the power grid. Bo and Kenema are on a massive transformation, while Pujehun and Kambai have work in progress.
For the new upgrade in Bo and Kenema, the project will replace the aging distribution network in these cities and also upgrade the 33KV line between Bo and Kenema to a 66KV line for the evacuation of power from the CLSG substation at Teloma in Kenema. The completion of this project will help connect the main communities along the Bo – Kenema highway (Blama, Jembeh, Baoma Station, Yomandu, and Gerihun).
Under the Regional electrification project, three CLSG substations have been completed in Teloma – Kenema, Binkongo substation at Bumpeh in Kono, and Bumbuna. Construction of the remaining two substations at Fadugu and Kamakwie is ongoing.
During the 2019 state opening of Parliament, the president states the gains his government has made against his 2018 manifesto commitments.
He the President say: “Regarding power generation, in 2018, Government signed with Karpowership contract to provide power to Freetown. The new Contract saved the Government US$9 million yearly and 18 million dollars for the two-year contract. Also, a project has been designed, completed, and equipment delivered to the site for a 6 Megawatt (Mw) Solar Power Park at Newton, and a 50Megawatt (Mw) Solar Power Purchase Agreement awaits Financial Close. 140. In the area of Transmission & Distribution, work on the Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea line is at an advanced stage and is expected to be completed in 2020.”
He continued to say that the Bumbuna and Kamakwie sub-stations have been completed; those in Kenema and Bumpeh are underway. The towers from Gendema to Bumpeh are 90% completed. 141. I am also delighted that Government has negotiated with the IDA additional resources of US$50 million to upgrade the network and improve on the Transmission and Distribution (T&D) in the Western Area.
It is anticipated that this project will be approved next month. The government has also made available resources for developing T&D to all district capitals in phases. 142. Since December, EDSA Electricity Vending is now operated by all Aggregators under an Advance Payment Scheme Contract since December 2018. The government has also awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of Electricity House that was burnt and abandoned a few years ago. This will substantially reduce the huge cost of rents paid to landlords.
It is believed that between February 2018 and January 2019, energy sales (kWh) increased by 46.9% and the number of EDSA customers also increased to 195,094 in March 2019 from 175,315 in April 2018 representing an 11% increase.
Generation utilization in Freetown also increased from 93.5% in April 2018 to 98.1% in February 2019 at a peak of 70 Megawatt (Mw). 27 144. The government has also signed 4 Public-Private Partnerships for the Rural Renewable Energy Projects and 13 regulations of the Electricity and Water Regulation Commission have been developed and ready for Parliamentary ratification for Tariffs and Mini-grids. 145.
As we are awaiting the conversion of these energy projects into tangibles to change the perennial blackout narrative
In the meantime, we can count the visible gains: families can watch TV and movies together, more investors are turning in to invest in the country, doing business has improved greatly, income is being generated for the country and way of live seen easier now, all thanks to the effort and commitments put in motion by this government.
