AYV News, April 17, 2025
The Parliamentary Committee on Energy has summoned Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Deputy Minister of Energy Edmond Nonie, and Dr. Rahim Jalloh to provide updates on the current state of the energy sector in Sierra Leone.
This meeting aimed to assess progress and address ongoing challenges within the industry.
During the session, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella expressed appreciation for the opportunity to engage with the committee, highlighting both the significant advancements made in the sector and the persistent challenges that remain.
He assured members that with continued efforts, Sierra Leone will achieve energy security. “We hope this is the beginning of more engagements with the Committee,” he stated, emphasising the complexity of the energy sector from generation to distribution.
Dr. Yumkella noted that the country has relied on emergency power supply for over two decades and emphasized the importance of laying a solid foundation for the future. He outlined plans to diversify energy generation sources and improve infrastructure over the next decade, aiming to transition from high-cost power to more affordable options.
He also mentioned ongoing efforts to make the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) financially viable, with initiatives focused on developing mini-grids and clean cooking gas solutions. Dr. Yumkella set an ambitious target to increase energy access from the current 36% to 80% by 2030.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy, Hon. Kekura Vandi, described the meeting as a significant event for the Sixth Parliament. He underscored the importance of electricity as a driver of national development and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving the energy sector despite economic challenges.
Deputy Minister of Energy Ing. Edmond Nonie presented five thematic areas concerning the current electricity supply, plans to connect mines to the grid, transformative projects like Mission 300, and the Karpowership initiative. He reassured the committee that there have been no citywide outages and that isolated incidents were due to glitches in the transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Nonie also shared insights on upcoming energy projects, including the establishment of a Rural Electrification Agency and the expansion of mini-grids across the country. He emphasised that reforms in the energy sector are crucial for supporting the Feed Salone agenda and improving access to reliable, affordable electricity.
