In the New Direction, the newly-appointed Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay has been busy seeking out ways in which he can best address the issue of rampant blackout in especially the capital city of Freetown.
Officials at the Ministry of Energy informed AYV that since Alhaji Kanja Sesay took over from his former counterpart minister Henry Macaulay, Alhaji Kanja Sesay has been in fruitful discussion with the owners and agents of the Turkish power-ship Karadeniz Powership Dogan Bey, currently berthed in Freetown after arriving in December last year.
At a recent meeting with the Minister of Energy, the Turkish Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Deha Erpek, said the new administration of President Julius Maada Bio has successfully negotiated a very good deal with the Turkish power-ship owners and that a contract is about to be signed. A senior World Bank official has stated in Freetown that this contract has received endorsement from the World Bank.
Officials of the Ministry of Finance indicated that the contract will likely be finalized today, with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance.
“It is a good deal because, instead of paying US35 cents per kilowatt, the government has negotiated for US16.4 cents per kilowatt. And the good news is that, the Government or EDSA will no longer bear the cost of fuel,” a senior Ministry of Finance official disclosed, adding that the new administration will be saving at least US$10M (ten million United States dollars) annually in the area of electricity.
The contract with the Turkish power-ship which is initially for three years means that the new government would save up to US$30M (thirty million United States dollars).
Maintenance work on Bumbuna Hydro Power Dam now complete
Furthermore, in improving on energy supply, the Bumbuna Hydro Power Dam, which was shut down on 20th May, 2018 for annual maintenance will return to full production capacity on Wednesday 30th May, 2018.
