By Thaimu T Kamara
The Director General of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT), Chernor Mamoud Jalloh, has led a high-level delegation on a tour of the NANT Power Project at Kissy Dockyard in Freetown to assess its progress, operations and compliance with social security contribution requirements.
The visit, conducted on Wednesday, October 21, brought together the Chairperson of the NASSIT Board of Trustees, alongside senior officials of the Trust, to gain first-hand information about the project’s development, workforce and future expansion plans.
Welcoming the delegation, NANT Executive Director Karim Nasser expressed appreciation for the visit and congratulated the Board Chairperson and the Director General on their respective appointments.
He described the engagement as an opportunity to strengthen relations with NASSIT and provide an update on the project’s implementation, operational plans and anticipated contribution to Sierra Leone’s energy sector.
During a presentation, NANT’s Administration and Logistics Manager, Peter Kamuray, explained that the project involves the construction of a 108.4-megawatt (MW) liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) combined-cycle power plant at Kissy Dockyard.
According to Mr Kamuray, the facility is expected to provide reliable baseload electricity to the national grid upon completion, supplying Freetown and the wider Western Area.
He noted that the project is expected to contribute to national economic growth, strengthen energy security and support efforts to reduce emissions through the development of modern power-generation infrastructure.
The presentation also highlighted the project’s contribution to employment. Mr Kamuray disclosed that the construction project currently employs 740 people, including 597 Sierra Leoneans, underscoring its role in creating employment opportunities for local workers.
He assured the NASSIT delegation that the company was fully compliant with its social security obligations and continued to pay contributions on behalf of all its employees.
The assurance highlighted the importance of compliance with national social security requirements in protecting workers’ rights and ensuring their eligibility for pension and other benefits under the NASSIT scheme.
Providing an update on the project’s implementation timeline, Mr Nasser disclosed that electricity generation was expected to commence in April 2027, while commissioning was scheduled for August 2027.
The anticipated milestones represent important stages in the development of the facility, which is expected to strengthen electricity supply and support the growing energy needs of businesses, households and other consumers in the Western Area.
Mr. Nasser also highlighted the company’s engagement with surrounding communities, outlining corporate social responsibility initiatives that include student sponsorship and road construction.
He further disclosed that a Power Purchase Agreement had been signed between the Government of Sierra Leone and CECA Sierra Leone Generation Limited, marking an important development in the arrangements for the project’s electricity supply.
Following the presentation, Mr Nasser led the delegation on a tour of the construction site, where the visitors observed the facilities and ongoing construction works.
The tour provided NASSIT officials with an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the project’s operations and understand the employment and investment activities associated with the development.
The engagement forms part of NASSIT’s efforts to maintain contact with employers across different sectors, assess their operations and encourage compliance with social security contribution requirements.
Through such visits, the Trust seeks to strengthen relationships with employers while promoting awareness of the importance of regular contributions in protecting workers’ social security rights and securing their future benefits.
The visit to the NANT Power Project also highlighted the relationship between private-sector investment, employment creation and social security compliance as Sierra Leone continues to pursue economic development.
NASSIT reaffirmed its commitment to engaging employers and stakeholders to ensure that eligible workers are covered under the national pension scheme and that their contributions are properly maintained.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 30th October 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
