Energy Reformation
Energy Minister Assesses Preparedness of the North for the Regional CLSG Power,Identifies Towns that will Benefit from the Project
By:Austine Luseni
Communications Specialist
Ministry of Energy
Contact: 077377042/034157390
Makeni City,Northeastern Sierra Leone,Thursday July 8, 2021— Sierra Leone’s Minister of Energy,Alhaji Kanja Sesay,togther with senior officials of his Ministry has visited the northeastern regional headquarter city of Makeni to assess the preparedness of the north for the reception of the CLSG regional power project and to show pressmen the huge quantity of materials that has been received and amassed at a central store in Makeni in respect of the project.
Speaking on behalf of colleague Paramount Chiefs in Bombali district,Paramount Chief of Bombali Shebora Chiefdom,PC Kasanga 3, welcomed the Minister and his team to Makeni,adding that they as traditional rulers were under a duty to create enabling environments in which government projects in their jurisdictions would thrive. He apologized to the Minister for the unfortunate incident associated with a generator that took place in the city last year.
Speaking to pressmen,stakeholders and the people of Makeni,Alhaji Kanja Sesay said they were in Makeni to assess the preparedness of the area to receive the regional CLSG power project. “Last week,we visited Tiloma and Kenema to assess how far works had gone on the two stations since the two would be evacuating the power to this part of the country,”Mr.Sesay explained.
The Minister of Energy went on to say that some of the poles and cables available at the store would cover distances spanning between 150 and 250 kilometers,adding that those materials were those that would be used to evacuate power from the key stations of Tiloma and Kenema for subsequent distribution to different areas in the north.
Alhaji Kanja Sesay said the project was the rural electrification component of the CLSG project,noting that towns such as Kamakwei,Kamalo,Fadugu,Kamabai,Kamanthe,Makpaki,Mabonto,Matotoka,Binkolo,Manjoro and Kamasinki would be electrified under the project.
He said President Bio was more than committed to fulfilling his campaign and manifesto promises in the area of access to energy,stressing that electricity was a critical driver of national development while also noting that that was the reason why the New Direction administration was treating the sector with utmost seriousness and commitment.
General Manager of Alpha TND Limited,Mohan Singh Shekhawat,said his company had the capacity and expertise to successfully implement the project,adding that among the stores they had set up in three different places,the one in Makeni was the biggest.
He assured that the company would do quality work and would be mindful of the project timeframe.He also spoke about the nature and quality of the materials they had received.
General Project Coordinator at the Ministry of Energy,Ing.Dr.Edmond Wuseni,gave a brief background of the regional power project and spoke about areas that the project would cover in Sierra Leone. He said substations at Fadugu and Kamakwei would be completed in October this year.
Earlier on, the Mayor of Makeni City Council, Her Worship Sunkari Kamara,praised the Minister and his team and commended the Ministry of Energy and EDSA for always rushing to the rescue of Makeni whenever there were electricity challenges in the city.
The energy sector reforms continue.
