By: Thaimu Bai Sesay (FBC Intern)
The Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA) and the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation have signed a 15 million US dollars grant assistance for the Extension of Power Distribution Network along the Freetown Peninsula.
The signing of the grant project took place in a conference at the midst of personalities including Chief Represent of JICA Ghana Office, Resident Representative of JICA Sierra Leone Office, Sierra Leone Chief Minister, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation in Freetown on Monday 19 December 2022.
According to His Excellency Mochizuki Hisanobu, Ambassador of Japan to Sierra Leone, the project was granted based on a request made by His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone on the sidelines of TICAD7 for Japan to extend electricity to the Southwest part of the Freetown Peninsula.
He intimated that since the request was made, JICA has been working closely with relevant stakeholders in Freetown to ensure that the request made by President Bio is been realized.
He disclosed that President Bio made the request after following the implementation of the projects in 2018.
Give that the Japan Government is delighted to support the Sierra Leone Government`s road map to increase energy access and improve service delivery, the ambassador expressed hope that the project will significantly contribute to the people’s access to electricity in the Freetown Peninsula.
He further expressed hope that the Government of Sierra Leone will demonstrate outstanding leadership in the implementation and successful completion of the project.
A press release issued during the press conference by the representative of Japan Embassy in Ghana reveals a 15 million US dollars energy grant project which constitutes procurement installation of constructions of 33kv transmission line about 46km, 11kv distribution line about 49km, 33kv substation of 2 sets, and 11/0.415kv substation which would be 23 sets. The contents of the project also include supply of 1 low voltage distribution materials, 1 maintenance tools and 1 spare part. The last set of the contents is the civil which includes 2 buildings of 33/11 kv substation and 1 civil engineering work.
It continued that the objective of the project is to expand and stabilize the power supply in the Southwest part of the Freetown Peninsula and also strengthen the basic power infrastructure of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
It went on by noting that the project would build on the upgrade of the Northern and the Northwest power grid which was also funded by the Government of Japan in 2008 and between 2012 to 2017 respectively.
It ended by stating that the project also intended to considerably contribute to the realization of the Government of Sierra Leone’s Development Plan and Energy Policy Roadmap.
Ms. Mamadi Gobeh Karma, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation who signed the million dollars grant expressed appreciation and assured representatives of the Japan Government that Sierra Leone as a country is committed and always ready for business.
