June 29, 2021
Dr. Eldred Taylor, the Deputy Minister of Energy has impressively rounded off his weekend of commissioning of mini grid facilities in different parts of the country with the lighting up of Sahn Town, Malen Chiefdom, Pujehun district where he told the people that President Bio was a man of his words and was more than committed to transforming lives and places.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Dr.Eldred Taylor said the Sahn mini grid was the largest in the country in every sense of the word, adding that it is indicative of how close the chiefdom was to the heart of President Bio.
He said government was determined to fulfill Pillars 3 and 4 of the New Direction Manifesto with respect to energy, noting that the Pujehun Town Electrification Project was at an advanced stage and that the rural electrification drive was moving at an aggressive pace.
Dr.Taylor said towns such as Gendema, Fairo, Zimmi and Potoru among others in the district would soon be electrified.
He said Sahn was having a 100 kilowatt mini grid facility-the biggest that could be seen anywhere in the country.
The Deputy Minister said the sheer size and capacity of the grid speaks volumes of the strategic significance of the chiefdom.
He rounded off his statement by talking about how the New Direction administration has increased access to energy from 16% in 2018 to 26% in 2021. He appealed to the people to own the project and spoke about plans by Power Gen to train and empower the young men and women in the chiefdom with basic electrical engineering skills.
The Deputy Minister said towns like Gbondapi, Blama Massaquoi and Kpaa are among towns that would benefit from the next phase of mini grid for which feasibility studies had already been completed.
Paramount Chief of Malen Chiefdom, PC Brima Victor Kebbie, said the day was a historic day for the people of his chiefdom, adding that the people would forever appreciate the development knowing full well the social and economic benefits that electricity would positively accrue to his people and chiefdom.
He spoke about plans by the European Union to construct a standard hotel in his chiefdom which would need electricity.
PC Kebbie noted that the launch was therefore coming at no better time since there was a tertiary institution in the area which needed electricity for its gadgets.
He welcomed the Deputy Minister and his team to his chiefdom.
Earlier on, the Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Emmanuel Junisa, gave a thorough overview of the project.
The energy sector reforms with specific reference to rural electrification continue.