By Sallieu S. Kanu
Newton Village, Western Area Rural District, June 10, 2026: Sierra Leone’s President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has commissioned two historic solar power facilities — a 30‑megawatt plant with a 15‑megawatt‑hour Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Newton and a 10‑megawatt plant with a 6‑megawatt‑hour BESS in Lungi — marking the largest single addition to renewable energy capacity in the nation’s history.
Developed under the Regional Emergency Solar Power Intervention (RESPITE) Project with support from the World Bank, the projects are hailed as a turning point in Sierra Leone’s drive toward energy security, economic transformation, and sustainable development.
“This ceremony is a statement of Sierra Leone’s ambition. It is proof that when vision is matched by determination, partnership, and action, transformation becomes possible,” President Bio declared, dedicating the achievement to students, healthcare workers, entrepreneurs, and families who have endured years of unreliable electricity.
The President emphasized that energy poverty has long constrained Sierra Leone’s potential, but the combined 40MW projects will strengthen the national grid, improve reliability, expand access, and create opportunities across healthcare, education, and industry.
“These are nation‑building projects,” he said, stressing that the true value lies not only in electricity generation but in the jobs, services, and industrial growth they will unlock.
President Bio extended gratitude to the World Bank for its technical expertise and partnership, while inviting investors, development partners, and innovators to join Sierra Leone in accelerating its energy transformation agenda.
Statements from the World Bank Country Representative, the Minister of Energy, Paramount Chief, and other stakeholders underscored the significance of the projects in advancing Sierra Leone’s energy sector and supporting national development.