House of Parliament,Tower Hill,Freetown,Thursday April 13 ,2023—— Sierra Leone’s Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay,has laid the Bekongor III Hydroelectric Project Agreements in Parliament and requested the House to ratify the Power Purchase and Implementation Agreements of the project.
Mr. Sesay reckoned that electricity and energy are the driving forces for the socioeconomic development of every country, noting that President Julius Maada Bio had prioritized the energy sector as one of the key areas of focus in the New Direction manifesto with the objective to increasing energy access throughout the country.
“Scaling up electricity access is paramount to achieving our agenda for transforming the economy of this country. To realize this vision and to ensure efficient and effective service delivery. The Electricity Sector Roadmap 2018-2030 targets to increase power generation capacity from 100MW of installed capacity to 1800MW,” he said.
Mr. Sesay said that the Ministries of Energy and Finance and the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority,EDSA,the off taker,had jointly signed the 120MW Bekongor III Project contract to construct,install,supply and commission a Hydro Power Plant for a period of 25 years with Nokorko Resources Limited and their partners.
While urging esteemed lawmakers to ratify the project agreements,the Minister of Energy said that the power that would be produced after the completion of the project would benefit an additional 900,000 consumers, adding that the project, which would be located near the Bekongor-Kongo waterfalls along the Sewa River in the Gorama Mende chiefdom, would generate and transmit abundant electricity in the country.
“The power plant will comprise the installation of 4/30MW Francis turbines,a new 225 KV substation to be built near the project plant site and the construction of an approximately 35 kilometers 225 transmission line from the project site to the CLSG Bekongor substation in Bumpe to enhance evacuation capacity,” Mr Sesay said,adding that the components of the project would be handed over to the Government of Sierra Leone after the 25-year period.
He concluded by speaking about the environmental impact assessment considerations of the project and the tariff system.
Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Energy, Hon. Kekura Vandi,expressed his delight at the project and urged colleague Honourable Members to ratify the project agreements.
Member of Parliament from Kono District,Hon. Musa Fofana, said his district was relishing the prospects of having to enjoy additional sustainable electricity supply.
Acting Opposition Leader of Parliament, Hon. Hassan Sesay,thanked the Minister for the conception of the project,noting that the project would be cost effective and would attract foreign investments.
The critical twin agreements, which seek to further expand the access rate to energy throughout the country, were unanimously ratified by the House, with the Minister taking the plaudits for his remarkable foresight and leadership.
The energy sector reforms continue.
