Kamara Musa Mark

Sierra Leone’s Energy Gamble: The Growing Economic Strain of Karpowership Deal By: Musa Kamara As Sierra Leone grapples with mounting economic pressure, concerns are intensifying over the country’s continued reliance on Karpowership for electricity generation. In a recent interview on SLIK TV, prominent and often controversial journalist Thomas Dixon issued a stark warning, citing a World Bank assessment that maintaining Sierra Leone’s current electricity expenditure is "unsustainable" and could potentially crash the economy. “The World Bank has warned that relying on Karpowership without reform will lead to serious economic problems,” Dixon stated, pointing to the ballooning costs and debts associated with the power agreement. His remarks underscore a growing national debate about energy policy and fiscal responsibility. At a high-level stakeholder engagement hosted by the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) last Thursday, Deputy Minister of Energy I, Ing. E...

“ We Will Ensure This Current Electricity Supply Is Sustainable” Chairman Yumkella Assures the Public By: Musa Kamara On  Friday, June 13, 2025,  at a press briefing held at the Ministry of Energy’s conference room in Freetown, Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, Chariman and Sector Lead of the Ministry, delivered a strong message of assurance to the public: the lights will stay on. The briefing, moderated by the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Mr. Chernor Bah, followed concern over electricity sustainability in the capital due to the looming phased reduction of output from the Turkish Karpowership. Despite that challenge, Freetown continues to enjoy relatively stable electricity supply, a success Chairman Yumkella attributes to strategic planning and coordinated effort. Dr. Yumkella opened by commending the leadership of the Ministry, including Deputy Ministers 1 and 2, the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), the Electricity Generation and Transmission ...

Sierra Leone Launches €34M Solar Mini-Grid Project to Power Rural Transformation By Musa Kamara   June 6, 2025 — In a bold step towards achieving universal energy access, President Julius Maada Bio has officially launched the €34 million Salone Off-Grid Renewable Energy Acceleration (SOGREA) Initiative, a transformative solar mini-grid project aimed at lighting up rural Sierra Leone. Funded by the European Union and implemented by UNOPS in partnership with Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), the initiative is set to electrify 60 rural communities, bringing sustainable power to over 25,000 households and nearly 3,000 businesses by 2027. With energy access in rural areas at just 6%, the project marks a pivotal stride in Sierra Leone’s national development plan and its goal to increase renewable energy’s share in the power mix to 35% by 2030. President Bio used the occasion not only to reaffirm his government’s commitment to ending energy poverty but also to publicly acknowledge th...