By Foday Moriba Conteh
Sierra Leone has secured international endorsement for its Mission 300 Compact, a bold initiative designed to significantly expand electricity access and modernize the nation’s energy sector. The development marks a milestone in the Government’s ongoing efforts to achieve universal energy access and drive sustainable economic growth.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, during the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly Press Briefing at the Miatta Conference Hall in Freetown. Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, Energy Sector Lead and Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF), presented details of the agreement and highlighted its transformative impact.
Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella commended President Julius Maada Bio for his visionary leadership and strategic diplomacy, which played a decisive role in ensuring Sierra Leone’s inclusion in the global initiative. He revealed that President Bio’s direct advocacy during the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) in New York had been critical in securing full endorsement from the World Bank and other key international partners.
“The recently endorsed Mission 300 Compact holds the key to unlocking Sierra Leone’s energy potential by harnessing international and local resources, strengthening partnerships and scaling up access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy in both urban centers and rural communities,” Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella told journalists.
Mission 300 is a Pan-African initiative aimed at connecting more than 300 million people across the continent who continue to live without electricity. It provides a framework for Governments, development partners and the private sector to coordinate investments and accelerate the rollout of modern, sustainable energy solutions.
Initially excluded from the first cohort of 12 beneficiary countries, Sierra Leone was successfully admitted during the second round in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in September 2024. This followed President Bio’s direct engagement with African and global leaders, which underscored the importance of energy access as a driver of economic transformation and climate resilience.
Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella explained that Sierra Leone’s winning proposal was the result of rigorous research, technical analysis and the expertise of a dedicated national team. He noted that the Compact sets out a clear roadmap built on five strategic pillars:
- Expanding generation capacity through hydro, solar and thermal upgrades.
- Leveraging regional power integration, particularly through the CLSG interconnector that links Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
- Promoting decentralized renewable solutions for off-grid and mini-grid communities, including the EU-funded SOGREA project that aims to deploy 200 mini-grids.
- Incentivizing private sector investment to accelerate energy delivery and innovation.
- Reforming utilities and sector governance to improve service delivery and financial sustainability.
The Mission 300 Compact sets out an ambitious target: raising national electricity access from the current 36 percent to 78 percent by 2030. Achieving this goal will require the construction of new transmission lines, expansion of renewable energy capacity, adoption of modern metering systems, introduction of clean cooking solutions and the installation of large-scale transformers alongside the rehabilitation of hydropower facilities.
Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella emphasized that the Compact will not only expand electricity coverage but also improve reliability and affordability, both of which are essential for industrial growth, education, healthcare and rural development.
Minister of Finance, Fantamadi Bangura, praised the technical rigor and professionalism that underpinned Sierra Leone’s proposal, describing it as “a homegrown plan with international relevance.” He highlighted the President’s hands-on involvement in championing the initiative, noting its alignment with Sierra Leone’s Feed Salone agenda, which focuses on boosting food production, agro-processing and climate resilience.
“This Compact is not just about energy it is about building the foundation for national development. It links directly to agriculture, industry and the well-being of our citizens,” the Minister stated. He added that the initiative had already attracted significant interest from development partners and investors eager to support Sierra Leone’s vision.
Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella disclosed that the Compact is expected to mobilize billions of dollars in new investment through a blend of concessional financing, grants and private sector participation. These resources, he said, would be channeled into modernizing the sector and creating an enabling environment for sustainable economic growth.
“Reliable energy is the backbone of development,” he stressed. “With this Compact, Sierra Leone is positioning itself not only to close the electricity gap but also to catalyze food security, job creation and green industrialization.”
The Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF), under Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella’s leadership, is spearheading Sierra Leone’s broader transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy. By integrating energy expansion with food security strategies and attracting large-scale investment, PI-CREF aims to make Sierra Leone a model for sustainable development in Africa.
With the Mission 300 Compact now formally endorsed, Sierra Leone is poised to accelerate its journey toward universal energy access. For millions of citizens, particularly those in rural and underserved areas, the Compact promises a brighter, more secure and more prosperous future.
