By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
On Thursday, April 3, 2025, Sierra Leone’s energy sector raised urgent concerns over a deepening crisis at the Bumbuna Hydropower Dam, where rapidly declining water levels have slashed electricity generation, leaving Freetown and surrounding areas increasingly reliant on costly thermal power. Experts attribute the alarming drop to a combination of climate change and human activities, including deforestation and illegal mining in the dam’s catchment areas.
At a press briefing held at the Ministry of Energy, Energy Sector Lead Hon. Kandeh Yumkella painted a stark picture of the situation, for the first time in six years, Bumbuna cannot supply even 1MW to Freetown, he revealed, in the past, it delivered 14-15MW, with additional power distributed to Makeni and Magburaka. Today, the capital depends almost entirely on the Karpowership to keep the lights on.
The dwindling water levels stem from prolonged drought conditions linked to climate change, compounded by rampant deforestation and unregulated mining upstream, these activities have severely disrupted the natural flow of water into the Bumbuna reservoir, threatening the dam’s capacity to generate power. Dr. Yumkella warned that without immediate action, Sierra Leone’s fragile energy infrastructure could face an even graver shortfall, exacerbating an already strained power supply.
In a bid to ease the crisis, he announced that repairs to generators at Kingtom and Blackhall Road had been completed, injecting an additional 9MW into the national grid. Yet, this stopgap measure offers only partial relief. Freetown currently receives 67-68MW at night, bolstered by an extra 9MW from Makoth during the day, still insufficient to meet demand.
Deputy Minister of Energy II, Dr. Rahim Jalloh, acknowledged the severity of the situation but sought to reassure the public, the government is actively pursuing both short-term fixes and long-term strategies to stabilize our energy supply, he said, hinting at plans yet to be detailed.
Milton Ngeba, Director General of the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC), provided a technical breakdown of the challenges, stressing the urgent need for sustainable energy management, we’re not just fighting a power shortage; we’re battling environmental degradation and outdated systems, he noted.
Presidential Spokesman Dr. Alpha Khan praised the Ministry of Energy’s reform efforts but shifted some responsibility to citizens, illegal mining and deforestation are worsening this crisis, he cautioned, unless we collectively protect our natural resources, power shortages will persist, his words underscored the need for a unified response to safeguard Sierra Leone’s energy future.
The Bumbuna crisis has exposed the vulnerability of Sierra Leone’s energy sector, amplifying calls for investment in renewable energy and stronger environmental protections, as the government scrambles to address immediate needs, the situation serves as a critical reminder without bold action to combat climate change and resource depletion, reliable electricity could remain out of reach for generations to come.