Deputy Minister of Energy l, Dr. Eldred Taylor,has told the visiting International Finance Corporation (IFC), Resident Representative for Liberia and Sierra Leone that opportunities abound in the energy sector in Sierra Leone that require financial interventions from International corporate institutions like the IFC.
Nuzhat Anwar, the IFC Representative for Liberia and Sierra Leone, said she had visited the Deputy Minister because she wanted to have a firsthand information about the state of the energy sector and to explore opportunities for private sector interventions.
She noted that she was happy with the strides the country was making in the sector, adding that the IFC remains committed to supporting the country in the areas of energy, manufacturing, financial inclusion and agriculture.
Nuzhat Anwar informed her audience that her institution has between four and five projects that are being implemented in Sierra Leone.
In his remarks, Dr. Taylor praised the serious partnership that the IFC has forged with his Ministry and catalogued the transformative strides that are taking place in the sector.
“With respect to our overall project, what as a government we are trying to foster now is to actually drive towards more renewables. I was particularly comforted when I heard you mention the SCATEC Project.
“I know you have been providing some instrument for them. I have even signed the letter of intent and briefed His Excellency the President on this project,” he said while sounding upbeat about the potential positive impact of the project.
The Deputy Minister said there was also an opportunity for IFC’s intervention in the area of the Bikongor hydropower project, noting that the project constitutes one of the largest hydropower projects that the government was committed to implementing.
He informed the visiting representatives about the preparatory feasibility studies and legislative frameworks that have been undertaken or put in place for the project, adding that the country was looking forward to getting support from institutions like the IFC for the project.
Chief Director of Energy at the Ministry of Energy, Ing. Benjamin Kamara, highlighted a number of energy projects including a feasibility study for one at Songo. He said the department of rural energy was working overtime to ensure the practical realisation of most of these projects.
With the energy sector and the Feed Salone agenda being inextricably linked, reforms continue in the sector.
