The European Commission and the Government of Sierra Leone have signed a Financing Agreement for the provision of grants worth € 4,700,000 or Le 20.2 Billion to restore electricity supply in several provincial towns in Sierra Leone. The amount is financed from the ACP-EU Energy Facility programme.
The project’s main objective is to provide access to electricity by providing the required generating capacities, the associated transmission/distribution networks and the service connections to consumers in the provincial towns of Makeni, Magburaka, Lunsar, Portloko, Kambia, Rokupr, Kabala and Lungi in the North and North West and Blama, Panguma and Mano Junction in the East.
The eleven functional provincial town utilities will provide services for 12,000 consumers resulting in the availability of electricity for: rural households, schools and vocational and tertiary institutions of learning, small artisans and commercial enterprises, hospitals and clinics, street lighting, etc.
The main activities of the project consist of:
– Provision of thermal generating plants as standby and/or complementary capacity from Bumbuna Hydro Electric Project.
– Installation of 70 km of 33 kV and 80 km of 11 kV transmission and distribution lines with protective equipment and 117 km of low voltage overhead lines with protective gear.
– Supplying and operation of 70 transforming stations.
– Connection to the network of 12,000 consumers.
– Accompanying measures including: NPA staff training, local authorities capacity building, education campaign to allow final beneficiaries acceptance of the infrastructure, support to local communities for development of income generating activities, environmental issues education.
This restoration project provides a unique opportunity for Sierra Leone to fill in a vital gap, since electricity provision is crucial in stimulating growth and development, as well as redressing imbalances between the Capital city and provincial towns.
The total project cost is estimated at EUR 10,000,000. The 47% of the total costs financed by the EU will be completed with a parallel co-financing. The Government of Sierra Leone is in advanced conversations with other donors to secure their contribution. The implementation of the project has started with the finalisation of technical studies and the completion of the tender documentation for the procurement of the electrical supplies.