By Aaron Bundu Lahai-Head of Media & Public Relations
Government of Sierra Leone has increased energy access to 35% across the country, providing energy access to 56 towns, the Vice President said on Tuesday.
Dr Juldeh Jalloh said this was achieved through the elaborate strategic plan, adding that with renewable solar energy, they have created new generation outlets, reduced subsidy on electricity.
He made the disclosure on Monday, March 20, 2023, while addressing the opening of the a five-day delocalized joint meeting with the theme: ‘Building the regional energy market for a just energy transition’. The meeting is organized by the Fifth ECOWAS (Economic Community of West Africa States) Parliament on Monday, March 20, 2023, in the conference hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Freetown.
He spoke about the expansion of electricity through the Transco CSLG connection to cities like Bo. Kenema, and Kono.
The Vice President said that energy access will be above 50% in few months from now.
Dr Juldeh Jalloh informed delegates from West Africa countries on measures taken by Government to transition the energy sector which was plagued with challenges in Sierra Leone since 2018. The challenges, he said, include poor utility governance architecture, limited solar mini grid, inadequate power generation and transmission line, and inadequate infrastructure to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity. He stated that the measures taken were from the elaborated strategic plan that was designed by the New Direction Government meant to turn around the energy story.
The Vice President said that“no country will develop without energy”. He described energy as the backbone of economic development. “Therefore, it is vital for the productive sector which holds the key to the economic development of the country.”
He told the audience about the relevance of governance architecture which manages the resources of the energy sector, because it reduced both commercial and technical loss.
He therefore informed about the introduction of the Private Sector Participation Policy by the Government meant to improve governance that provide the resources and supply light on a sustainable basis.
Vice President Jalloh disclosed Government plan to shift from utility energy that powers house, hospital, and mobile phones to productive energy that generate electricity for industrial purposes. “No country will develop without a solid productive sector. A productive sector cannot move an inch without an expansive energy access,” emphasized the Vice President.
He revealed President Bio’s philosophy to move Sierra Leone from the utility sector to a productive energy that attracts investors, and build industries that could create jobs and increase Government revenue.
He said that the ECOWAS Region needs to make a radical shift from utility energy to productive energy. He encouraged the ECOWAS Parliament to adopt a regional approach in the energy sector that will make the transition vital for the prosperity of the Region, if ECOWAS wants to realized Vision 2050.
Honourable Sidi Tunis, Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, stated that the West Africa Parliament is committed to strengthen representative democracy and contribute to the promotion of peace and stability in the sub-region. He reaffirmed that a free, transparent and peaceful election is the surest way to ensure the transfer of the sovereignty of the people to those who govern them. He expressed commitment to work with the ECOWAS Commission to do everything possible to guarantee free, fair, and credible elections in Sierra Leone. The meeting is attended by Members of Parliament from ECOWAS countries, and other essential staff of the House.