By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Freetown, Sierra Leone — July 11, 2025: In a comprehensive media briefing on Friday, Sierra Leone’s Energy Sector Lead, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, outlined bold reforms and ongoing initiatives aimed at overhauling the country’s electricity supply. Speaking ten months into his appointment, Yumkella emphasized the urgency to diversify energy sources, repair legacy infrastructure, and cut reliance on expensive external suppliers.
He noted that since taking office on September 1, 2024, his team has focused on restoring local generation capacity and building new partnerships for affordable energy acquisition.
“Our short-term strategy is to repair our own generators, secure cheaper energy from neighbors, and move away from high-cost sources,” Yumkella said. “We now generate about 25 megawatts locally through fully operational units at Kingtom and Blackhall Road.”
In addition, Sierra Leone recently began receiving up to 20 megawatts from Guinea through regional energy trading protocols backed by ECOWAS and the African Union. Yumkella credited Guinea’s expanded hydropower infrastructure for enabling the trade, with Sierra Leone sourcing power at approximately 17 cents per kilowatt-hour.
On contracts, Yumkella confirmed that the Karpower agreement—previously spanning multiple years—has been reduced to a single year under presidential directive, reinforcing the push toward energy self-sufficiency.
⚙️ Expansion Plans and Infrastructure Milestones
Dr. Yumkella announced that the country expects an additional 52 megawatts by early 2026, including:
– 🔋 16 MW from repaired units at Blackhall Road
– ⚡ 36 MW from the new U-TIP project
The Energy Ministry has also launched a tender for decentralized generation points to serve densely populated zones such as Wellington, Lumley, and Dwarzark. International partners including the Japanese government are supporting transmission infrastructure, notably the Sussex-Tombo loop.
🧾 Reforms in Finance and Transparency
Yumkella outlined three major governance reforms:
– Single Collection Account — consolidating revenue from the energy sector into a unified, traceable system within three months.
– Independent Collection Oversight — introducing transparency measures to prevent financial mismanagement.
– Mini-Grids Development — a rollout of 60 rural grids targeting agricultural hubs, with site selection based on population density and service access, in collaboration with the EU and GIZ.
Yumkella closed by affirming commitment to the President’s plan for energy sovereignty and equitable access:
“Inshallah, by next year, our electricity supply will be cheaper, more reliable, and largely produced by our own systems.”
As Sierra Leone powers toward a more resilient future, Yumkella’s roadmap blends pragmatic fixes with visionary ambition.