AYV News, March 11, 2025
Members of Parliament (MP) representing Sierra Leone’s main opposition, the All People’s Congress (APC) Party have breaking silence on the country’s deplorable energy crisis.
The APC MPs held their monthly conference on the ongoing energy crisis and its impact on the country.
Opposition Chief Whip, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, gave a detailed analysis of the Bumbuna Phase project as a potential solution to the energy crisis, had the government allowed it to continue. He highlighted the company’s achievements since 2012, before it was dissolved under the current administration.
These accomplishments he said include completing the Technical and Environmental and Social Feasibility Study in 2013 and signing the PPA and IA by Parliament in 2017, which he said was meant to establish a 25-year capacity-based agreement.
The Opposition Chief Whip also revealed that the then Minister of Energy had halted the project, despite its potential economic benefits, adding that just as the company was set to replace houses for the Project-Affected People (PAPs), they received instructions to suspend all field-level engagement.
According to him, the Government of Sierra Leone had raised concerns about the project’s costs, tariffs, and development expenses.
He added that from 2018 to the present, Seli made numerous attempts to work with the government to resolve these issues, offering improvements to the 2017 PPA/IA, but with no success, adding that a meeting in April 2022 between the government and the company resulted in an agreement to incorporate variations into the project.
The Opposition Chief Whip emphasised that the company had adjusted its operating costs to accommodate delays caused by the absence of the AFDG PRG, adding that the proposal adjusted the tariff increase, linking it to 47% of the US CPI inflation from 2019 instead of 100% escalation tied to US inflation from 2015.
Despite these efforts, Hon. Kamara stated that the then Minister of Energy asked SHPL to submit a proposal addressing the government’s concerns. In response, SHPL offered a phased approach to the project, aimed at reducing costs, the PRG, and capacity charges. However, the government failed to respond.
The Opposition Chief Whip noted that the Minister discontinued all engagement with SHPL, alleging that the company had contacted the MCC about the project. Additionally, all project documents were forwarded to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
He concluded that the government’s decision to sever ties with the project was likely influenced by the location of the project, implying that without this factor, the government would not have terminated the engagement.
Deputy Leader 2 of the Opposition, Hon. Aaron Aruna Koroma, discussed the APC’s legacy of ensuring equitable access to electricity for all regions and ethnic groups. He criticised the current administration for spreading propaganda about expanding energy access while the country continues to face severe power shortages.
He also pointed out that when the SLPP came to power, they inherited substantial energy infrastructure, including the Black Hall Road Station, Shallot Station, Bumbuna Phase Two, the Lungi power grid, and Lunsar—facilities later demolished due to their location in the Northern regions.
Hon. Aaron Aruna Koroma lamented that these actions have resulted in rising unemployment, as these institutions were major sources of employment. He further criticiced the government’s “divide and rule” strategy, particularly in development projects related to infrastructure, electricity, and water.
He said: “Under the APC, development was spread evenly across the country, while under President Bio’s regime, projects seem to focus primarily on the South-East, leaving the North-West to suffer”.
Hon. Mahmud Kamara examined the current electricity crisis, stating that it should not be blamed on divine will, but rather on government negligence in addressing the people’s needs. He also highlighted the abandonment of key power-generating institutions like ADAX (now SUNBIRD), which once generated energy for the nation through biomass, due to the government’s regionalist policies.
Hon. Mahmud Kamara revealed that around 80% of EDSA employees are volunteers, which he believes contributes to the inefficiency of the power supply, as those responsible for service delivery are inadequately compensated.
In conclusion, the MPs presented several resolutions to address the crisis, including repairing all power stations and implementing the Bumbuna Phase Two, which they see as the only viable solution to alleviate the ongoing electricity shortage in the country.
