By Politico staff writer
As part of the ongoing rural electrification project in Sierra Leone, the Minister of Energy Alhaji Kanja Sesay has on 24th July 2021 powered up the solar mini-grid in Madina town, Kambia district.
Speaking at the event, Minister Sesay said the rural renewable energy project is sponsored by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) formally known as DFID to the tune of forty-nine million dollars ($49,000,000) for ninety-nine communities and that it was divided into two phases as a result of the number of communities targeted.
He noted that the first phase targeted fifty-four communities, and is already completed and handed over to three private operators with Power Leone covering the North.
He added that Madina was part of the initial forty-four communities comprising of larger areas but with one more community added, now totaling forty-five communities.
During this phase two, the government is providing the necessary materials while the private companies assembled and carried out the implementation and operation of the grids. The electricity supply he guaranteed will be 24 hours uninterrupted.
Community Liaison of Leone Power Maseray Fofanah commended the Minister and team for the opportunity and outlined that under the rural renewable energy project, their company was powering twenty four (24) communities, with two hundred and forty-two customers registered for their service in Madina Town, Kambia.
Paramount Chief Alimamy Bombolahai Korgba IV thanked the government for bringing electricity to their town after forty-five years and urged all residents to guard against those who might seek to destroy their much-awaited blessing.
In his statement, the Manager of Morkoni Guest House in Madina, Musa Kamara expressed gratitude for the mini-grid, noting that he would normally spend hundreds of thousands of Leones on fuel to power his generator which supplied less than satisfactory power to his guests but that with the mini-grid both his business and home are enjoying efficient power supply at a reduced cost.
Salamatu Bangura a resident of Madina expressed gratitude to the government and partners for what she tagged as an unbelievable achievement in such short time which comes with several business opportunities to the township and its environs.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (30/07/21)
