AYV News, January 22, 2025
The Government of Sierra Leone together with its development partners including Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) commissioned the Kassirie Mini Grid project to supply reliable electricity to previously underserved communities.
This solar-powered mini-grid project in Kassirie is the third such project by the Universal Energy Facility, a multi-donor results-based finance (RBF) programme managed by SEforALL, and comprising 67kW of solar and 204kWh of battery power to deliver clean, reliable and sustainable electricity to 54% of households, businesses, and public institutions in Kassirie, directly benefiting thousands of people across the community, that were previously and entirely dependent on fossil fuel generators for its power needs.
Remarking on the significance of the project, Hon. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Energy Sector Lead and Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF) said, “The Universal Energy Facility’s RBF programme will transform Kassirie and Kambia District by powering homes, schools, and healthcare facilities with clean, reliable energy. It’s not just about electricity it’s about creating opportunities, improving healthcare, enhancing education, and empowering communities to thrive.”
By utilizing renewable energy, the project supports Sierra Leone’s Energy Transition and Green Growth Plan and this Kassirie mini-grid project by Power Leone will contribute significantly to the Government’s efforts to improve energy access and support rural economic development.
Speaking on the financial models that are catalyzing such projects, Anita Otubu, the Senior Director of the Universal Energy Facility said, “The Kassirie mini-grid project highlights how donor funding can serve as a catalyst for transformative change. By supporting infrastructure development in unelectrified communities, initiatives like this directly improve lives, providing reliable electricity that drives economic growth, enhances public services such as healthcare and education, and fosters long-term resilience. We extend our appreciation to our funders, including the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), as well as our partners the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), European Union Delegation and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for their invaluable support.”
This commissioning event underscores the broader momentum for rural electrification in Sierra Leone. With the recently announced commitment of EUR 20 million in financing from the European Union Delegation to support the Government of Sierra Leone’s Results-Based Financing mechanism to be administered through SEforALL. This funding is poised to electrify 35,000 rural households and businesses, enabling transformative change in underserved communities.
The Universal Energy Facility (UEF), managed by SEforALL, was established as a multi-donor Results-Based financing (RBF) facility to accelerate and scale up energy access across Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond, in line with SDG7 and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
