By Josephine Sesay
In a landmark move for Sierra Leone’s renewable energy sector, the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) has committed USD 45 million to rehabilitate and expand the Bumbuna I hydropower facility, this pledge, announced following high-level talks on the sidelines of the OPEC Fund Development Forum in Vienna, marks a pivotal step toward energy transition, as the clock strikes, this development signals hope for a sustainable future.
The commitment emerged from fruitful discussions led by Hon. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, representing the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF), alongside Minister of Finance Sheku Fantamadi Bangura. Strategic input from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) further shaped the initiative. The Bumbuna I Expansion is a cornerstone of Sierra Leone’s Mission 300 Compact, a national blueprint to modernize energy infrastructure and expand electricity access. The project will double the facility’s capacity to 100 MW with two additional turbine-generator units, enhancing grid reliability and advancing climate resilience goals.
Dr. Yumkella hailed the project’s alignment with national objectives for sustainable energy, decarbonization, and economic growth. He revealed ongoing negotiations with a second co-financing partner, with OFID as lead financier, pending a letter of intent from the government. A recent joint appraisal mission, involving IRENA, OFID, the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Energy, Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC), and Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), confirmed the project’s technical and socio-economic viability.
This expansion is a cost-effective, climate-smart solution to our power challenges, Dr. Yumkella said, it will bolster infrastructure, create jobs, and pave the way for universal electricity access, additionally, he finalized discussions on the USD 260 million OFID-Sierra Leone Country Strategy Programme, set for formal signing soon by Minister Bangura.
As Sierra Leone reflects, the Bumbuna I Expansion promises a reliable power supply, reduced diesel dependency, and a greener energy landscape.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday, 20th June, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
