By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
The southern Sierra Leone district of Moyamba is set to get electricity for the first time in 40 years. Over the weekend the Minister of Energy and other officials signed a deal with the Indian power provider, Shivary Company for the electrification of the district.
The deal is part of the Sierra Leone Electrification Project that is being rolled out across different districts in the country. Under this current project which is 100% sponsored by the Government of Sierra Leone, a total of six districts will be electrified by 2022. A similar project has been launched in Kambia, Koinadugu, Moyamba, Pujehun, Kailahun and Bonthe, all of which have gone decades without electricity from the main grid.
According to the Project Manager, Ing James Rogers, Moyamba will have 15 transformers, 4,800 millimeters of underground cable, 700 poles and 52,500 meter long cable coverage.
A new powerhouse will also be constructed to run the districts power supply. The project is expected to last for 18 months.
Ing. Rogers said that once the project was completed, dedicated transformers would be given to strategic places like the Harford Secondary School for Girls, the Government Hospital and Water Works.
“This project is not a rehabilitation one but an entirely new project that will install brand new equipment or accessories. After the 18-month period of work some 550 households will be connected to the grid for the first phase,” Ing. Rogers said during the signing ceremony.
Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay said the electrification project was part of the government’s greater commitment to its people by electrifying the whole country.
He said towns like Bauya, Senehun, Shenge, Sembehun, Gbangbatoke and Bradford would all benefit from the project.
The Mokonde campus of Njala University which is in the district is also expected to benefit from a separate project for which funding has already been secured from the African Union.
Chairman of the Moyamba District Council, Joseph Gbogba told Politico that they were excited about the prospect of having electricity in the district after four decades.
He said electricity would bring enormous progress to the district.
“This is extremely important to the people of Moyamba, because we have been in total darkness for over 40 years. All successive governments have failed us. The cry of the people has been mainly about three things: water supply, electricity and good road. And now the water supply and electricity project are going on side by side, the people are grateful,” he said.
Gbogba said the infrastructure for the transmission and distribution of electricity had to be rebuilt from scratch after it had been destroyed during the country’s civil war.
The lack of electricity in the district has affected the growth of most businesses and even basic living condition.
“The cost for some business is very expensive and that is why in our own district we can’t even sell some foods because we don’t have the power to preserve them….If you are running a business or a home with 5KVA generator you will be spending approximately Le70, 000 on a daily basis on fuel alone. If you multiply this over the month, it is a huge part of your capital,” he explained.
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