Freetown, December 8, 2025. Sierra Leone’s Minister of Energy, Cyril Arnold Grant, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for a major extension of the power distribution network along the Freetown Peninsula today, applauding the Government and People of Japan for their continued support in expanding.
Increasing energy access across the country. The project, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was described by the minister as a “generous gift” that will help light homes, power businesses, and support broader national development objectives.
Minister Grant stated that the initiative renews a long-standing partnership with Japan and is a timely intervention in line with Sierra Leone’s accelerating ambitions. The project’s centrepiece is the construction of a new 33 kV transmission line that will connect the Goderich substation to proposed substations in Tombo and York. He said the new line will significantly increase transmission capacity on the peninsula and is an important step toward the government’s goal of achieving 78% national energy access by 2030.
“This new project will dramatically increase capacity,” Minister Grant informed attendees. “The 33 kV line from Goderich to Tombo and York represents a long-term investment in our shared future. It represents a significant increase in transmission capacity, capable of supporting growth and production for the next decade.” He emphasized that the development will directly benefit the peninsula’s communities, naming Goderich, Tombo, Sussex, Kerry Town, York, Madina, Black Johnson, and Kent as areas where service and reliability are expected to improve.
The minister emphasised the transformative role that reliable electricity plays in promoting private sector growth. Reliable power, he said, will improve operational efficiency for new hotels, provide investors with the certainty they need, and create conditions for local businesses and small-scale entrepreneurs to grow and hire. “We are profoundly indebted to JICA and the people of Japan for the generous support that they have given us over the years,” Minister Grant said, vowing that the government will be a good steward of the infrastructure and use it to improve livelihoods.
Dr Kishore Shankerdas, representing the Japanese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, stated that His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio proposed the project concept, which prompted Japan’s initial grant commitment. Dr Shankerdas explained that in June 2025, Tokyo signed an additional grant agreement with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, totalling JPY 2,893,000,000. “With this new commitment, the project now stands at JPY 2,893,000,000, reflecting Japan’s commitment to completing this important project,” he said, adding that the initiative will contribute to Sierra Leone’s overall energy expansion drive.
Officials at the ceremony also linked the project to the government’s Feed Salone agenda, emphasising the close relationship between energy sector reform and national growth priorities. As reforms continue throughout the sector, the new transmission investments on the Freetown Peninsula are intended to provide a solid foundation for economic recovery, service delivery improvements, and inclusive development in the coming years.
