Sierra Leone’s Minister of Energy, Cyril Arnold Grant, has disclosed that the country is carrying close to 100 million United States dollars in outstanding electricity-related debts, raising concerns about the sustainability of the power sector.
Speaking in an interview on AYV Television, Minister Grant said almost 50 million dollars of the debt is owed to Karpowership, the Turkish-owned floating power plant supplying electricity to the country.
He added that the government also owes about 20 million dollars to another foreign power supplier, in addition to unpaid obligations to solar energy companies and electricity bills owed to the Republic of Guinea.
The minister acknowledged that the heavy debt burden continues to limit the country’s ability to deliver reliable electricity nationwide. While noting that Sierra Leone can generate electricity around the clock, he admitted that providing uninterrupted 24-hour power to the country’s estimated eight million people is currently not feasible.
According to Grant, achieving full nationwide 24-hour electricity supply would require massive resources, including domestic oil discoveries, which the country does not yet have. “For now, it is impossible,” he said frankly.
He explained that the government is pursuing solutions to address the energy crisis, but stressed that public funding alone cannot resolve the problem.
Grant called for increased private sector investment, describing energy as a critical foundation for national development.
The minister also warned that the Bumbuna Hydroelectric Dam, the country’s main power source, is operating under serious strain. He said several projects are underway to expand generation capacity and improve access to stable electricity, but noted that progress will take time.
In concluding, Minister Grant said his administration has prioritised tackling governance challenges at the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), improving revenue collection, and reducing losses in the energy sector as part of efforts to manage the growing debt.
Grant was appointed Minister of Energy on 6 November 2025, at a time when Sierra Leone is seeking to stabilise and reform its energy sector to support economic growth.
