On March 20th, 2023, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, the Vice President of Sierra Leone, addressed the ECOWAS Parliament’s five-day delocalized joint meeting in Freetown. The focus of the gathering was the “regional energy market and energy transition,” an issue of paramount importance to West African nations1.
Dr. Jalloh highlighted the challenges faced by the region in energy access and provision. He emphasized the need to build on existing regional energy initiatives and pointed to the financial barriers inhibiting energy expansion, particularly for certain West African countries. The Vice President urged member states to attract private sector investments into the energy market, acknowledging the sector’s infrastructural deficiencies and advocating for collaborations with bilateral and multilateral institutions1.
Dr. Jalloh also detailed the obstacles faced by the Bio administration since assuming office, such as poor utility governance architecture, limited solar mini-grid, and insufficient generation and transmission capabilities. He stressed the importance of engaging with international institutions to secure investments that would alleviate these challenges and ensure wider access to electricity1.
Sierra Leone has made significant strides in energy supply through the Elaborate Strategic Plan. Dr. Jalloh revealed that the country’s energy supply has increased from 16% to 35% nationwide. Notably, 56 towns now enjoy renewable solar energy, new generation outlets have been established, and subsidies on electricity have been reduced. He highlighted specific advancements in electricity supply in Bo, Kenema, and Kono districts via the Transco CSLG connection, with a promise of surpassing 50% energy access in Sierra Leone in the near future