By Amin Kef Sesay
In a dated 29th January 2021, Press Release the Ministry of Energy says it is pleased to inform the General Public that it has received the news of a $50 million grant approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors as contained in another Press Release dated January 28, 2021.
The Ministry continued that the grant, which is from the International Development Association (IDA), will be used by the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Energy to improve access to energy and to enhance institutional capacity and commercial management of the energy sector.
The Ministry notes with delight and appreciation the role the World Bank and other partners continue to play in Sierra Leone in helping the New Direction administration achieve its overall national development policy objectives with specific reference to the energy sector .
According to the Release, the project, dubbed ‘The Sierra Leone Energy Access Project’, and which will be co-financed with a $2.7 million grant by the Japan Policy and Human Resources Development, seeks to support the country’s COVID-19 economic recovery through the provision of electricity to households, businesses, health clinics and schools.
The Ministry said its want to inform all that the said project will cater for an estimated 276,000 Sierra Leoneans, 700 health centers and schools and will help cut an average 15.135 tons Greenhouse emission per year.
It furthered how it is worthy of note that the said project is consistent or aligned with the outcomes of two multi-stakeholder energy sector roundtables respectively held in October and November 2019 and represents the commitment of the Government of Sierra Leone in increasing access to reliable and affordable energy.
The Ministry, highlighted that it finally wishes to inform all that that approval was borne out of a series of negotiations between the Ministry of Energy, EDSA and EGTC and the World Bank and is indicative of the many positive strides the Ministry, and by extension the Government of Sierra Leone, has made in the energy sector and in continuing to attract international donor confidence and support .
