AYV News, January 24, 2025
Infinity Power, the Egyptian renewable energy solutions provider which signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Sierra Leone to produce 1 gigawatt of renewable energy capacity has sent a team of experts to Sierra Leone to conduct feasibility studies and locate suitable location for the installation of 80 megawatts (MW) of ground mounted and 60 megawatts (MW) of floating solar PV with battery storage facilities.
This significant step is a follow-up to the inaugural visit made by the company’s Deputy CEO, Ahmed Mulla in July 2023. Mulla expressed strong optimism for the newfound relationship with Sierra Leone which he said he was keen to build on to ensure sustainable solutions for country’s energy challenge as he signed the MoU on behalf of Infinity Power at State House.
The team comprising of solar engineers and the company’s West Africa Business Manager spent two days at Bumbuna Hydro Power, the ideal location Infinity has identified for their investment. The Infinity team was acccompanied by Engineers Dr. Abdul Rahim Jalloh, MCC Unit Coordinator and Dr. Edmund Wuseni, General Projects Coordinator from the Ministry of Energy, Edrick Saidu, Corporate Planning and Service Delivery Manager from the Eletricity, Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) and Mohamed Marah, Renewable Energy Engineer from the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC). The team was led by Anthony Kamara, Director of Partnerships, Communications and Outreach at the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF) on behalf of the initiative’s Chairman, Hon. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, who is currently in Turkey in high stakes meetings with other officials from the government with the leadership of the Karpowership.
Following the visit to Bumbuna Hydro and its environs, Gamal Osman, Senior Solar Design Manager noted that they have sufficient information needed to offer a preliminary proposal. This includes the ability to connect to the CLSG sub station, availability of land for both floating and ground mounted PV and locations closer to a river.
Isma Ndiaye, West Africa Business Development Manager noted that the feasibility studies is part of the processes that they must undertake by working with the Ministry of Energy. “Our presence here these two days have allowed us to know much more than photos can offer and have our questions answered,”he said.
“Chairman Yumkella has always stressed the importance of collaboration to get things done. I am pleased to see that this visit to Bumbuna is supported by technical experts from the Ministry of Energy, EDSA and EGTC. The presence of Drs. Wuseni and Jalloh who have spent years working here at Bumbuna makes all the difference. Such strong partnership is needed to deliver on President Bio’s vision for the energy sector,” said PI-CREF’s Anthony Kamara.
Following his meetings in Istanbul, Chairman Yumkella will meet meet with the leadership of Infinity Power in Abu Dhabi where he is leading a delegation from Sierra Leone to attend the International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) General Assembly.
