By Ibrahim Sorious Samura
A Singaporean-based Energy Company – Infinitum Energy Group (iEg) is on the verge to provide 38 Megawatts of electricity to Freetown and its environs. The company’s source of generating electricity is by transforming or converting wastes into energy/electricity.
Infinitum Energy Group (iEg) already has such existing projects across the world, and more are under construction across Africa. And, with the Sierra Leone Government’s drive towards providing sustainable electricity in the country, the Infinitum project will be of utmost importance, both in the area of energy generation and supply, and in the areas of health and environmental safety.
Waste management and disposal will definitely be a challenge of the past, as the new energy company will be extremely reliant on wastes as a source or means of generating electricity. Hence, the Councils’ (Freetown City Council & Western Rural Council) existing challenges regarding waste management will be solved for once.
The Infinitum Energy Group has been in Sierra Leone for the past 14 months, engaging the Government and community stakeholders for the planning and successful implementation of this project. The company seeks to do an initial investment of 180 million dollars, with many additional benefits to the communities and the nation as a whole. Additional investments are expected from other investors across the world.
In their latest stakeholders engagement meeting, the Infinitum Energy Group met with the Local Government Ministry and Western Rural Council authorities, to further register their commitments for the actualization of this very important project and to explain the roles of the Government, the Councils and community stakeholders. This took place at the Local Government Ministry Conference Room, 6th Floor Youyi Building, in Freetown on Thursday 8th September, 2022.
The CEO of Infinitum Energy Group, Lindsay Nagle made a thorough PowerPoint presentation about the project, with special emphasis on the company’s history and structure, vision and the implementation phase.
Lindsay outlined his company’s global presence – with ongoing projects in the United States, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Uganda, etc.
An excerpt from the company’s website reads:
“Infinitum Energy Group ( iEg SL) Waste to Energy Ltd., has set out to create a meaningful impact in the young and growing country of Sierra Leone by implementing a 1,000 ton per day, waste to energy facility. The proposed facility will have the ability to create up to 38MW of clean, renewable base load power that iEg intends to evacuate to the local grid operated by Electrical Distribution & Supply Authority, under the control of the Minister of Energy.”
“The goal of the proposed project is to allow for the safe diversion of approximately 30% of the waste generated in the greater Western Area of Sierra Leone. The Western Area consists of the City of Freetown, the city of Waterloo and some other rural areas, with a combined population of approximately 2.2 million people.”
The Deputy Minister of Local Government, Madam Melrose Karminty expressed her Government’s willingness and commitment to support development programs with special emphasis on attaining sustainable electricity supply. She lauded the efforts of Infinitum on their drive to provide 38 Megawatts of electricity to Freetown through the conversion of wastes to energy.
Minister Karminty also urged the Group to speed up with the necessary framework and roadmap towards the implementation in the shortest possible. She added that once that is done by the company, her Government will immediately do the needful to ensure the kick start of the project.
The Country Manager of Infinitum Energy Group, Yassin Kargbo reiterated his company’s commitment to ensure the successful implementation of the project, which they wish President Julius Maada Bio to turn the sod of the construction of the plant in March 2023.
Yassin noted that they have been engaging the central and local Government authorities for a lengthy period of 14 months, which to some extent, has frustrated their efforts due to the bottlenecks along the line.
It is his wish for the Government to prioritize this project because of its socio economic benefits and contributions to national development.
The iEg Country Manager, Yassin Kargbo, highlighted some of the benefits that come with the project including providing jobs for young people, from the waste collection, to technical work, etc; the community will also benefit from the company’s Community Social Responsibility (CSR), in which 2% of the investment fund of $180 Million (representing $3.6 Million), will go to community development; waste management, collection and disposition will be boosted by the energy Group, thereby ensuring a healthy and safe environment, the local Council will be provided with support, in the form of capacity to collect and manage the wastes; the State will benefit from clean energy and taxes when the project comes to fruition.
“All we need is the willpower to ensure that this project is implemented in March next year,” Yassin Kargbo.
A site at Hastings in the Western Rural community has been identified as the potential and appropriate location for the plants which means, that both the Freetown and Western Rural communities will be connected.
Yassin further mentioned that the road leading to the proposed site will be constructed, plus a clean water supply system for the community will be provided by the Infinitum Energy Group, excluding the investment fund of 180 Million Dollars.
The meeting was also graced by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, the Director of Local Government Ministry, representatives from the Western Rural Council, Infinitum Energy Group representatives and the media, at the Ministry of Local Government Conference room, 6th Floor Youyi Building, in Freetown.
