By Kadiatu A. Turay

Presidential Initiative on Renewable Energy

Freetown is enduring its most severe power crisis to date, a situation laid bare by Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security. At a recent press conference, Dr. Yumkella pinpointed the root cause: illegal mining has crippled the Bumbuna hydroelectric plant, slashing its capacity and plunging the capital into darkness.

The devastation from illegal mining at Bumbuna is catastrophic, Dr. Yumkella said, it’s crippled power generation, leaving Freetown residents without light or hope.

Freetown reels from erratic outages, Dr. Yumkella highlighted a glaring disparity, regions like Kono, Magburaka, and Bo enjoy uninterrupted 24-hour electricity, this imbalance has sparked outrage among Freetown residents, who argue that the capital, the economic heartbeat of Sierra Leone, deserves priority, if Freetown is in darkness, businesses falter, hospitals struggle, and students suffer,” Dr. Yumkella warned. We must act now.

Dr. Yumkella revealed that while the government is securing an additional 36 megawatts of power, this falls far short of the 80 megawatts Freetown requires to function effectively, we must face reality, he said. The city’s energy demands are unmet, and current efforts aren’t enough, He proposed a dedicated generator for the capital as a long-term fix, alongside investments in renewable energy to bolster supply.

The crisis has ignited responses from stakeholders across the spectrum, government officials, business leaders, and civil society, all weighing in on the unfolding emergency.

The Ministry of Energy, led by Minister Alhaji Kanja Sesay, acknowledged the crisis but offered reassurance. “We’re working tirelessly to address Freetown’s power challenges, Sesay stated. “Short-term fixes like power imports and long-term solutions like solar expansion are underway.

The Sierra Leone chamber of commerce voiced fears of economic fallout, stable electricity is the lifeline of business, said spokesperson Victoria Bangura, prolonged outages threaten jobs and investment. Small and medium enterprises could collapse if this isn’t resolved soon.

Environmental activist Ibrahim Kamara of a local civil society group urged a shift to renewables, outdated power sources won’t cut it, he argued, solar and wind investments are critical for a resilient grid that serves everyone.

The crisis ripples through everyday life, households face soaring costs from generator use, while schools and hospitals grapple with disruptions, my kids can’t study at night, and fuel expenses are draining me, said Aminata Sesay, a Freetown resident, at Connaught Hospital, a senior doctor, speaking anonymously, added, power cuts halt critical procedures, we need reliable electricity to save lives.