AYV News, August 1, 2024
The Government of Sierra Leone is preparing to sign a landmark agreement with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), marking a $480.7 million investment in the nation’s electricity sector.
The five-year Millennium Challenge Compact, expected to be finalised after a 15-day congressional review period that began on July 29, 2024, aims to significantly enhance the country’s power infrastructure.
The compact will fund three major projects: the Transmission Backbone Project, the Distribution and Access Project, and the Power Sector Reform Project. These initiatives target the critical issue of Sierra Leone’s inadequate and unreliable electricity supply, which currently limits economic growth and affects the majority of the population.
The Transmission Backbone Project will focus on expanding the coverage and reliability of Sierra Leone’s power transmission network. It includes the construction of a new transmission corridor and a centralized dispatch center to better manage the network.
The Distribution and Access Project aims to improve the reliability of electricity distribution, refurbish the existing network, increase access in underserved communities, and establish a new distribution dispatch center.
The Power Sector Reform Project will work on enhancing the financial sustainability of the electricity sector, improving regulatory frameworks, and encouraging private sector investment. It also includes support for key sector institutions and initiatives to boost operational efficiency and financial management.
Currently, only about 30% of Sierra Leone’s population has access to electricity. The new compact builds on the previous Threshold Program, which concluded in 2021, by making foundational investments to provide more reliable, affordable, and sustainable power.
The MCC’s decision to proceed with this compact follows recent positive developments in Sierra Leone’s political landscape. The compact aligns with the U.S. Government’s Power Africa initiative, which seeks to increase electricity access across the continent.
The expected impact of the compact includes benefiting an estimated 4.6 million people, with a focus on improving living standards and economic opportunities for those living below the national poverty line.