By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara,
Sierra Leone’s energy sector leaders faced the Parliamentary committee on energy in a landmark sixth Parliament session, unveiling bold reforms, tackling persistent challenges, and mapping a path to 80% electrification by 2030, chaired by Hon. Kekura Vandi, the hearing united energy sector lead Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, deputy ministers Ing. Edmond Nonie and Dr. Rahim Jalloh, and heads of EDSA, EGTC, and EWRC, aligning with President Julius Maada Bio’s Feed Salone agenda.
Vandi opened, stressing electricity’s role as “the backbone of development, this session drives accountability and progress, he said, citing 2024’s 20% rise in energy demand, per EDSA data, he lauded Bio’s reform commitment despite a 15% budget squeeze, per 2024 ministry of Finance reports.
Dr. Yumkella detailed a shift from costly emergency power, used for 20 years, to sustainable sources, we’re building a resilient energy future, he said, highlighting hydro (30% of 2024 mix), solar (10%), and gas projects, per EGTC stats, with 36% electrification up from 25% in 2020, per World Bank he targets 80% by 2030 via $500 million in public-private investments, per ministry plans. EDSA’s financial stabilization, cutting 2024 losses by 25%, and 50 rural mini-grids, serving 10,000 homes, anchor the strategy.
deputy minister Nonie outlined five priorities: grid stability (300MW capacity, per 2024 EDSA logs), mining power (50MW dedicated), Karpowership’s 65MW deal, the mission 300” to connect 300 communities, and rural programs, no major outages in 2024, he assured, though 10% of Freetown faced delays, per user complaints. A planned Rural Electrification Agency, backed by $10 million in 2025 donor funds, will scale mini-grids, per ministry projections.
Dr. Jalloh emphasized reforms: transparency via 2024’s EWRC audits, EDSA’s 30% revenue boost, and partnerships adding 20MW solar, per EGTC, energy powers education, health, and jobs, he said, noting 2024’s 5,000 clean cookstoves distributed, per rural surveys.
Public voices, active on X, demand reliability, no light, no progress, posted trader Mohamed Kamara, gaining 1,000 likes. Analyst Aminata Sesay urged rural focus, mini-grids must reach villages, her post earning 600 likes. Imam Abdul Conteh praised gains, solar lights our mosque, challenges persist 2024’s 20% transmission losses, per EDSA, and 40% rural access gap, per World Bank. yet, 2025’s $50 million AfDB grant offers hope, per donor pledges.