In a significant development, Sierra Leone’s power supply has been fully restored after a brief period of low production.
This comes as a result of concerted efforts between the government and energy producers to resolve payment and supply chain issues.
“We are pleased to confirm that the power supply at full capacity to Sierra Leone has been restored following a brief period of low production,” Karpowership stated.
“We are grateful for the government’s great efforts and continuous communication with us to resolve the fuel payments and supply chain problems, which have allowed us to restart operations swiftly and continue providing the people of Sierra Leone with reliable and uninterrupted electricity.”
However, the situation also saw the resignation of Energy Minister Kanja Sesay earlier today over the blackout in major cities like Freetown, Bo, Kenema, and Kono, attributed to nonpayment issues with power producers Karpowership and CLSG.
In response, the Ministry of Finance announced late afternoon that partial payments had been made to the power producers. An agreement was reached, resulting in the disbursement of US$17 million to Karpowership to address outstanding obligations.
Moreover, in a bid to ensure uninterrupted power supply, the government has transferred an additional US$1.5 million to TRANSCO-CLSG, reinforcing ties with Côte d’Ivoire.
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Finance, further discussions are underway with independent Power Producers (IPPs) to reevaluate existing contracts, aiming for a sustainable and dependable energy provision.
The Ministry of Finance pledges to intensify collaborations with the Ministry of Energy and EDSA to implement reforms geared towards enhancing the financial stability of the Energy Sector.
