By Shadrach Aziz Kamara
The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Energy, chaired by Hon. Charles Abdulai, has held an intensive session at Tower Hill, Freetown, examining the partial concession plans for the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), with a specific focus on transparency, efficiency, and public impact.
Opening the session, Hon. Abdulai emphasized the need for clarity around the privatization versus concession narrative, underscoring the importance of protecting public interest.
“We are not privatizing EDSA. We are allowing private sector participation to handle specific operational areas—mainly commercial and technical—to improve efficiency and reduce the government’s subsidy burden,” he noted.
The committee expressed concern about potential impacts on tariffs and the general public, especially in light of past privatization efforts that failed to yield positive outcomes.
“We represent the people. We must ensure that this process will not place additional burdens on already struggling consumers,” a member stated.
Officials from EDSA and the Ministry of Energy confirmed that the government will retain full ownership of EDSA while allowing concessionaires to operate in defined areas under strict regulation. The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) will maintain oversight of tariff structures and service delivery to avoid exploitation by private actors.
Debates also centered on the alarming rate of vandalism of electricity infrastructure, particularly in districts like Kabala and Kenema. Committee members called for urgent identification and accountability of contractors responsible for faulty installations and proposed stronger legal frameworks, including the establishment of special energy courts to fast-track prosecution of offenders.
Hon. Abdulai further challenged the Ministry and EDSA to intensify public education and community engagement efforts.
“Popularization is key. People must understand that public electricity infrastructure belongs to them. Without this sense of ownership, vandalism will continue,” he added.
The committee requested a detailed breakdown of the concession framework, including proposed revenue-sharing models, legal safeguards, and accountability measures. A follow-up engagement has been scheduled to review draft agreements before any final approvals.
As the June 2025 deadline for the concession process approaches, Parliament remains firm in its role to scrutinize and ensure the initiative aligns with national development goals and the welfare of the citizenry.
