By Mabinty Kamara
At a well -attended event by government officials of Sierra Leone and Cote d'Ivoire, President Julius Maada Bio on Thursday 23rd December commissioned the Tiloma Power Station in Kenema to herald the commencement of a steady supply of electricity to both Bo and Kenema, after years of erratic power supply.
The latest development was as a result of several years of planning by the government and the ECOWAS led West Africa Power Pool initiative to improve electricity in sub-regional member states.
The switching on of light sparked wild scenes of jubilation in Bo and Kenema as residents poured out into the streets in their thousands.
In his statement, President Julius Maada Bio said his government is committed to ensuring electricity supply for all which he said aligns with the country's development agenda.
"Better electricity means that the lack of reliable, affordable and accessible electricity supply is a constraint to economic development and of cause national developments," he said
He said more electricity means more economic activities, better jobs more profitable private sector investment, better healthcare and education.
He expressed gratitude to the development partners for their support in the actualisation of the project.
He assured the people of a 24 hour uninterrupted electricity following the commissioning of the power station.
"Now you are going to have 24 hours electricity. It can only go off if you cannot pay the bill, if your pocket is empty,"the president said.
He also warned against electricity theft and for the people to ensure judicious use of it.
The Minister of Energy Alhaji Kanja Sesay admitted that the constant blackout in the two neighbouring cities of Bo and Kenema have been worrisome for the government. He said he has been embarrassed man a time by people for the constant blackout. He thanked the president for his support and understanding of the difficulties in ensuring sustainable electricity. He said the country has moved from 11% to about 39% electricity accessibility.
"This will be a transformative process in the lives of our people. I am in no doubt that they will make use of this opportunity to elevate themselves from poverty," he said. The minister said they have spent huge sums of money on the project and encouraged the people to pay for the services and to also become watchdogs for the facilities.
He warned against theft and misuse, noting that the project is one of the government's achievements. He also mentioned other agreements signed recently aimed at improving electricity.
The General Manager for Transco CLSG project.... said three of the five power stations in Sierra Leone have been completed with those at Yebe and Kamakwe to be completed in June 2022.
He said the West Africa Power Pool was created in 1999 and an energy mass supply was adopted in the ECOWAS region to ensure social and economic development.
He said the CLSG project is a multinational investment which is financed by four donors, the World Bank, African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank and the German Development Bank. He said the four beneficiary countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire have also provided counterpart funding to finance the environmental and social management plan, the resettlement and action plan, among other support.
"Today your excellency, by switching in this light, you are giving the people of this country hope in education, alleviating poverty and fostering social and Economic development," he said.
He said Sierra Leone is the first to sign the power purchase agreement and the transmission service agreement in the four countries.
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