By: Saidu Jalloh
Sierra Leone’s Energy Sector Lead and Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security, Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, has announced an ambitious plan to increase the country’s power generation capacity from 271 megawatts to 1.12 gigawatts by 2030. The announcement was made during the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly press conference held on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
Dr. Yumkella highlighted that this initiative is part of the recently endorsed Mission 300 Compact, a continental program aimed at providing electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030. He revealed that Sierra Leone’s participation in the Compact followed extensive consultations and technical input from national energy experts, leading to the creation of the Sierra Leone Mission 300 Compact. This plan was endorsed by the World Bank and the African Development Bank during a ceremony in New York in September 2025.
Outlining the five strategic pillars of the $2.2 billion Compact, Dr. Yumkella emphasized the government’s focus on expanding power generation, leveraging regional integration, promoting decentralized renewable energy, encouraging private sector investment, and improving the financial stability and governance of utility institutions. These pillars, he explained, will form the foundation of Sierra Leone’s energy transition agenda.
Dr. Yumkella further revealed that under the Mission 300 Compact, Sierra Leone aims to increase electricity access from 36% to 78%, raise renewable energy usage from 46% to 52%, and expand clean cooking access from 1.5% to 25% by 2030. He also noted that private sector investment in the energy sector is projected to grow from $615 million to $1.4 billion during the same period.
Describing the Compact as a “transformational roadmap,” Dr. Yumkella emphasized that it aligns with President Julius Maada Bio’s vision for sustainable and inclusive national development. “Energy is the lifeblood of development,” he stated, underscoring that improved access to affordable and reliable electricity will spur economic growth, enhance education and healthcare, and empower communities across Sierra Leone.
According to Dr. Yumkella, the Mission 300 Compact is more than just an energy initiative; it is a strategic investment in Sierra Leone’s future. It will empower citizens, attract private investors, and bolster the nation’s resilience in the face of global energy and climate challenges.