AYV News, October 1, 2025
For the first time since the establishment of the Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA), Sierra Leone has formally participated in its flagship triennial event—the 21st APUA Congress, held from September 26 to October 3, 2025, in Cairo, Egypt. This historic engagement marks a new chapter in Sierra Leone’s commitment to regional energy cooperation and sustainable development. The country was represented by a high-profile delegation, including Mr. Alpha Samuel Jusu (Board Chairman, EGTC), Mr. Milton Gegbai Moiwa (Director General), EGTC), Mr. Andrew Keili (Board Chairman, EDSA), and Mr. Chernor Sulaiman Jalloh (Technical Director, EDSA) Their presence among Africa’s energy leaders signals Sierra Leone’s readiness to embrace collaborative solutions to the continent’s evolving power sector challenges.
Themed “Energy Transition Challenges,” the Congress brought together over 1,000 participants, including ministers of energy, utility CEOs, technical experts, financiers, and private sector innovators from across Africa. Organized in partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy and the African Development Bank, the week-long event explored key issues such as decarbonization, digitalization, and regional power integration. For Sierra Leone, participation provided a platform to learn from best practices, assess the continent’s trajectory towards clean and accessible electricity, and explore innovative financing mechanisms crucial for local sector reforms.
The APUA Congress is more than a technical meeting—it is a strategic forum for aligning African countries under a common vision for energy access, integration, and sustainability. Created in 1970, APUA now consists of 56 utility companies and continues to shape the continent’s electricity future through advocacy, training, and interconnection initiatives. Over the decades, it has championed major power pooling projects and supported policy reforms across sub-regions. The 21st edition of the Congress also celebrated APUA’s 55th anniversary, emphasizing resilience, experience, and renewed ambition in leading Africa’s energy transition.
Sierra Leone’s engagement in this continental discourse comes at a critical time. The country continues to grapple with supply challenges, infrastructure gaps, and limited rural electrification. Yet, the Congress offered insights into scalable solutions—such as regional interconnections, gender inclusion in the energy workforce, smart grid technologies, and capacity building through APUA’s African Network of Centres of Excellence in Electricity (ANCEE). With the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM) gaining traction, Sierra Leone now has an opportunity to plug into a larger grid that promises reliability, affordability, and shared prosperity.
Looking ahead, the momentum gained at the 21st APUA Congress must translate into action. Sierra Leone’s energy institutions are encouraged to leverage partnerships formed in Cairo to unlock technical and financial support, accelerate reforms, and improve governance in the sector. As the continent eyes a just and inclusive transition, Sierra Leone’s voice—now officially in the room—must champion solutions that are not only technically sound but also socially equitable and environmentally responsible. With the 22nd Congress scheduled for Morocco in 2028, the journey has only just begun.
