May 28, 2021
By Aruna Kamara (Bo)
In his reaction to the blackout issue in Makeni the regional Public Relations Officer of the Electricity and Distribution Authority (EDSA) in the Northen Region, Sulaiman Sengu Koroma maintained that they have shut down the Bumbuna Hydro to embark on annual maintenance to ensure sustainable electricity supply.
He said that they have thermal plants that will generate power in makeni which will be rationed every six hours and that immediately after the maintenance they will go back to normal power supply
Mr Koroma allayed the fears of the people by emphasizing that EDSA will ensure that the city is returned to twenty four hours power supply to the satisfaction of residents.
The Northern headquarter town of Makeni has been plunged into darkness for many days due to ongoing maintenance work on the hydroelectric plant which has ignited frustration and disappointment among residents in Makeni City .
Speaking to this medium, a resident Hawanatu Conteh who runs a restaurant said since the removal of the standby generators they have been suffering from power outages which is costing her a lot as she depends on electricity for her living.
A 23 year-old student of the University of Makeni, Abdulai Mansaray also said it is very bad that he would have to live in blackout for more than weeks or months.
He lamented that his academic studies is affected as he hardly revised his notes and complete his assignment but he went on to expressing hope that the plant maintenance would be completed before the start of his university exams.
“We are students and we deserve uninterrupted electricity supply,” he bemoaned, adding that the Government should fill in the gap by making available a standby generator.
A Political analyst called Brima Kamara in Maknei hinted that the issue of power outage is currently widely discussed in the town with many blaming the current SLPP political dispensation of ineptitude in terms of making it frequently available for public consumption.
Brima Kamara said that the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) has stated in a Press Release that the main reason for the frequent ‘blackouts’ is as a result of maintenance work on the Bumbuna Hydro Electricity Dam but it must be noted that the importance of building on the country’s power sector in order to fast track private sector development to foster overall socio-economic development cannot be overstated.
He went on to say that without light and power supply we cannot build or run the factories that produce goods nor enjoy the amenities that make life more comfortable and enjoyable. He noted that Power failures are particularly critical placing community residents at risk. Institutions such as hospitals, sewage treatment plants and mines need a lot of power supply, this means that power outages may negatively impact on the whole community and the economy.
Power outage may cause: Disruption in communications, water and transportation facilities, cause food spoilage and water contamination.