June 21, 2021
Sierra Leone’s Minster of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, has on the 17th June, 2021 at a final workshop organized by the Ministry of Energy and the United States Trade and Development Agency,USTDA, received and analyzed a mini grid feasibility study report. The event was held at the Family Kingdom Resort, Aberdeen, Freetown.
While addressing participants, Alhaji Kanja Sesay said the feasibility study was sponsored by the USTDA and was aimed at looking into the potentials of more mini grid sites in the country. He said but for the COVID-19 pandemic, the study which started in October 2019 would have been completed by December 2020, stressing that government continues to believe in the potentials and significance of rural energy.
“One of the electricity strategies of the Ministry of Energy and by extension the Government of Sierra Leone in terms of creating more access to energy is to go into rural communities that do not have any link to the grid,” Mr. Sesay said, adding that President Bio’s vision in the sector was to be able to reach these far-off or remote communities through mini grids.
He said the government was aware of electricity being a critical driver of national development, noting that government was determined to uncover the potentials of mini grids by undertaking studies on suitability of mini grid sites, power demand in areas, economic activity, demographics and the possibility of productive use.
Alhaji Kanja Sesay said that the report presented to him was comprehensive and user friendly. He said the report had identified 200 sites, out of which 45 sites spread across all the regions were described as more suitable for now, adding that the task now was to look for funding for the commencement of work on those sites.
The Minister of Energy said the estimated cost for operations on the 45 sites was $18 million and that those sites would connect some 15,000 households to the rural grid. He spoke about efforts by government aimed at reducing the tariff structure for existing mini grids.
He said the USTDA was providing a full package of technical information needed to implement a variety of mini grid projects, adding that the workshop would provide an overview of the process, including the full financial, economic and cost benefit analyses of the grids. He praised different US agencies for their support.
Project Manager for WINDGEN POWER, Joe Harrington, said the study looked at continuing progress in mini grid development in the country. He said the aim was to expand rural energy access, focusing on small communities and commercial anchors. Mr. Harrington spoke about the tariff system and the public private partnership in the sector.
Government through the Ministry of Energy is leaving no stone unturned in its remarkable rural electrification drive.