Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, has held an interactive engagement with mini grid operators to relay the concerns of beneficiary communities with respect to the operational efficacy of mini grids across the country.

The engagement took place at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Energy on Monday March 20, 2023.

Mr. Sesay lauded the efforts of the operators and commended the unprecedented revolution that has taken place in the mini grid or solar energy space.

“We do appreciate the work that you have been doing because through the mini grids, we have been able to increase access to energy.

“We have been able to reach places in rural communities, which without mini grids, we would not have been there,” he stated, adding that this has remarkably transformed the economies of these places.

The minister of energy however pointed out that the transformation in the sector was threatened by nationwide reports of the operational ineffectiveness of some facilities and operators, adding that His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, who is on a nationwide tour, has received unpleasant reports about the inefficiency of the solar powered batteries.

Mr. Sesay said that it was with the view to finding answers or solutions to these questions or concerns that he had summoned them to the engagement.

Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Emmanuel Junisa, in a detailed report on nationwide concerns, said Cabinet and the Office of National Security, ONS, had flagged the issue of the ineffectiveness of mini grids and had even labeled it a national security threat.

He particularly expressed concerns over Package II, stating that the ministry was not pleased with the adverse findings or the recent development in the mini grid sector.

PowerGen Country Manager, Hassan Suma, spoke about a variety of challenges that they are faced with in their operational areas, including but not limited to illegal connections and the doctoring of meters.

Mr. Suma however assured that his company had taken note of the concerns and was going to take steps to correct the anomaly.

A representative from PowerLeone, Emmanuel Harding, acknowledged the severity of the concerns and promised to address them. He appealed to the Minister for concessions of sole sourcing to urgently replace worn out batteries.