By Salleiu S. Kanu
Freetown, Sierra Leone — The Ministry of Energy has assured the public that proactive measures are in place to mitigate the impact of the Karpowership shutdown, as Sierra Leone faces critical electricity challenges due to prolonged payment delays.
During a press conference recently, Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, Chairman of the Special Initiative for Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security, confirmed that Karpowership—a global provider of floating power generation—has reduced its supply to 6MW. However, Freetown continues to receive stable electricity due to strategic energy planning.
Current Power Sources for Freetown
Dr. Yumkella outlined the city’s electricity supply, drawing from multiple sources:
- Bumbuna Hydropower Plant: 18.6MW
- CLSG (West African Power Pool): 23MW
- Nigata Machine at Kingtom: 9MW
- Karpowership: 5.6MW
- Total Output: 56.29MW
Additionally, Sierra Leone has secured 10MW from Guinea to supplement energy supply, with ongoing negotiations to finalize costs.
Urgent Infrastructure Plans & Economic Challenges
The Blackhall Road Power Plant, a nationally owned facility, is set for repairs within three months, with spare parts already available in-country. Once operational, it will provide 16MW to the national grid.
Dr. Yumkella emphasized that over the past six years, the government has paid approximately $320 million to Karpowership, noting that this arrangement is economically unsustainable.
EDSA Reforms & Meter Inspections
Deputy Minister of Energy I, Edmond Nonie, announced plans for meter inspections among major customers, including factories and hotels, to improve revenue collection. The Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) currently serves 350,000 customers, with 700 large customers contributing 40% of total revenue.
Additionally, EDSA’s customer care services—currently centralized in Freetown—will be decentralized to improve accessibility across the country.
Karpowership’s Financial Struggles & Government Response
The electricity supply crisis follows Karpowership’s recent announcement of significant reductions in power generation due to unpaid capacity fees for over two years, and delayed fuel supply payments for six months.
Despite these financial challenges, Karpowership pledged to prioritize critical services, including hospitals, schools, and water pumps, even as overall supply drops from 50MW to 6MW.
High-level negotiations between the Government of Sierra Leone and Karpowership took place in Istanbul in January 2025, leading to an agreed payment plan. However, government delays in honoring the agreement prompted Karpowership to issue multiple warnings in April 2025, followed by a suspension notice on May 28, 2025, demanding immediate payment of 30% of the outstanding balance.
Future Outlook & Load Shedding Strategy
The Ministry of Energy reaffirmed its commitment to resolving the crisis, stressing that efforts—under President Julius Maada Bio’s direct instruction—are in motion to secure reliable and accessible power supply.
While load shedding remains inevitable, officials assured that it will be systematically managed to minimize disruptions for residents.
As Sierra Leone grapples with energy challenges, both the government and private sector continue to seek long-term solutions to ensure sustainable electricity access for the nation.