By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security has stepped up efforts to protect workers’ rights and promote workplace safety following an inspection visit to the 108.4-megawatt power project under construction in Kissy, Freetown.
The visit, led by Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Umaru Napoleon Koroma, focused on assessing the project’s progress, employment arrangements, workplace safety measures and conditions of service for workers engaged in the construction of the facility.
Speaking during the engagement, Minister Koroma emphasised that the Ministry’s responsibility extends beyond ensuring employment opportunities, stressing the importance of creating safe, decent and dignified working environments for all workers.
He said direct engagement with employers and regular workplace inspections were essential to identifying challenges affecting employees and ensuring compliance with established labour standards.
The Minister described the power project as a significant private-sector investment that could contribute to addressing Sierra Leone’s persistent electricity challenges. He added that the Ministry was interested in understanding the project’s progress and exploring ways to support its safe and timely completion while ensuring that workers’ welfare remained a priority.
During a presentation, Karim Nasser, Executive Chairman of Nants Energy Project, disclosed that the facility was a 108.4-megawatt combined-cycle power plant being developed through a partnership between two companies, with ownership stakes of 72 per cent and 28 per cent respectively. He noted that the ownership structure was expected to change after construction.
Nasser described the development as a major private-sector investment undertaken without a government guarantee, estimating its value at approximately four per cent of Sierra Leone’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He disclosed that the project had secured US$292 million in financing from the United States International Development Finance Corporation, alongside US$120 million in insurance support, while the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development had contributed US$40 million.
The project’s financing structure also received international recognition through an IJGlobal award in 2024.
On employment, Nasser said approximately 700 workers were currently involved in construction, with women accounting for nearly 20 per cent of the workforce.
He described female participation as a notable achievement in the energy and construction sectors, where women remain underrepresented, adding that local participation was an important aspect of the project’s workforce arrangements.
The plant incorporates Siemens technology and currently operates on propane, with plans to transition to natural gas in the future, subject to the necessary arrangements.
Explaining the technology, Nasser said the combined-cycle system uses gas turbines to generate electricity and recovers heat produced during the process to generate steam. The steam then powers an additional turbine, increasing the plant’s overall electricity output.
He further disclosed that Siemens would be responsible for the plant’s operations and maintenance, while Shapoorji Pallonji was handling the engineering, procurement and construction contract.
Providing an update on the construction timeline, Nasser said work commenced in August 2025, with contractual completion scheduled for the end of August 2027.
Following the presentation, the Ministry’s delegation was scheduled to undergo a safety induction before embarking on a guided tour of the construction site to observe ongoing construction activities, equipment and infrastructure.
The visit forms part of the Ministry’s broader efforts to strengthen labour monitoring, promote decent employment and ensure that major development projects comply with workers’ rights and workplace safety standards.
The engagement also underscores the importance of balancing Sierra Leone’s infrastructure and economic development ambitions with the protection, safety and welfare of the workers contributing to the country’s development.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 2nd November 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
