By Josephine Sesay
Sierra Leone’s energy sector is facing a severe financial crisis, with outstanding debts approaching $100 million, according to Minister of Energy Cyril Arnold Grant.
Speaking during a recent appearance on Wake Up Sierra Leone, Minister Grant disclosed that nearly half of the debt, about $50 million, is owed to Karpowership, the Turkish energy firm that supplies a significant share of electricity to the capital, Freetown.
It is not only Karpowership that we are owing, Grant said. We also owe close to $20 million to another foreign power supplier, CI Energies of Côte d’Ivoire. Again, we owe money to some solar companies supplying us power, and we also owe some money to Guinea for electricity.”
According to the Minister, the combined liabilities to foreign and local power providers now stand at close to $100 million, placing enormous strain on the already fragile energy sector.
Electricity Theft at the Core of the Crisis
While acknowledging the scale of the debt, Minister Grant attributed the crisis largely to systemic losses within the electricity distribution system, a term he clarified refers mainly to electricity theft, illegal connections, and non-payment.
He revealed that the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) loses nearly 50 percent of the power it distributes, despite previous tariff increases approved by regulators to cover technical losses.
When I say losses, it sounds as if you have a pipe and it is leaking electricity,” Grant explained. “No. You have a pipe and Sierra Leoneans are stealing electricity.
The Minister described the practice of bypassing meters as unpatriotic, stressing that electricity theft is not confined to low-income households. He noted that some businesses and affluent homes operate multiple air conditioners and heavy appliances without paying for the power they consume.
Minister Grant said his leadership is now focused on strengthening governance and accountability at EDSA to halt the financial hemorrhaging. He admitted that government resources alone are insufficient to resolve the crisis.
Sierra Leone is in the course of entering into solutions in addressing its energy crises, but there is room for more improvements, he said, government alone cannot do it, we need the private sector to come and invest because energy is development.
The Ministry of Energy plans to overhaul revenue collection systems, intensify enforcement against illegal electricity connections, and create a more attractive environment for private investment in the power sector.
As Sierra Leone continues to grapple with power shortages and mounting arrears, officials warn that without urgent reforms and public cooperation, the country’s energy sector risks further deterioration—threatening economic growth and national development.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 17th December 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
