Photo credit: SL Mining Ltd.
Sierra Leone has launched an energy-transition roadmap that requires mining companies to connect to the national grid by 2040, reports Bloomberg.
The transition to grid power is expected to reassure renewable-energy investors about the demand in Sierra Leone, justifying the $10.9bn power expansion plan. This move is part of a broader strategy to increase the country’s power capacity from 300MW to 4.5GW by 2050, with 90% of the energy coming from renewable sources.
The mining industry, which represents 70% of Sierra Leone’s export earnings, currently self-generates over 500MW using diesel. The country’s existing power production is insufficient for its connected households and businesses, leading to a dependency on private fossil-fuel generators. Less than a third of the population has access to electricity, a gap the government aims to bridge by connecting mining operations to the grid.
The plan’s success hinges on attracting private funding, as Sierra Leone’s smaller economy cannot bear the high costs of transitioning to cleaner energy alone.
Sierra Leone Chamber of Mines Secretary, Ibrahim Sorie Kamara, said: “It is an idea that most companies are gravitating toward.
“Producing your electricity is expensive and logistically challenging. If this power can be sustainable and reliable, it will make economic sense.”
In the interim, Sierra Leone plans to import energy from the West African Power Pool to supplement its grid, with an initial focus on hydro and solar power, according to Deputy Energy Minister, Edmond Nonie.
The government is also addressing issues with existing partners and seeking new ones. For instance, Turkish operator Karpowership had halted supplies over unpaid debts, which Sierra Leone has begun to settle. This comes after President Julius Maada Bio assumed control of the energy ministry, following Kanja Sesay’s resignation due to the power crisis.
