Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) has scheduled the annual maintenance of the Bumbuna Hydroelectric Power Plant and its associated 161kV transmission line, which will result in a temporary shutdown from Monday, 18th May 2026 at 1:00 AM to Friday, 29th May 2026 at 6:00 PM.
In a press release issued on 12th May 2026, EDSA, in collaboration with the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC), informed the public that the planned 12-day outage is necessary for routine maintenance to ensure the safety, reliability, and long-term sustainability of the facility and its transmission network.
The maintenance work will affect electricity supply to Freetown, Makeni, and Magburaka.
To minimise disruption during the period, EDSA and EGTC will deploy thermal diesel generators in the affected areas. Additionally, Independent Power Producers, including Karpower and Planet Solar, are expected to ramp up their generation to help bridge the supply gap created by the temporary unavailability of Bumbuna.
EDSA emphasised that the annual maintenance is a critical requirement under international safety and engineering standards. Performing the work now, during the peak of the dry season when Bumbuna’s output is already at its minimum, is intended to prevent more severe and unplanned outages later.
“Bumbuna’s Annual maintenance is a critical operational requirement… This exercise ensures the continued efficiency, reliability, and long-term sustainability of the facility and its transmission network,” the statement read.
The Authority expressed regret for any inconvenience the maintenance may cause and appealed to consumers for patience and understanding. EDSA said it remains committed to delivering stable and sustainable electricity supply and will restore full Bumbuna generation on Saturday, 30th May 2026.
To help manage expectations, EDSA has promised to publish a detailed load-management schedule for all affected areas by Friday, 15th May 2026. Members of the public can access updates and report faults by calling EDSA’s 24-hour toll-free line on 672 or Charbot on 075672672.
