- The financing will enable the government to extend its power grid in cities and peri-urban areas.
- Solar off-grid systems will be deployed for remote areas where grid extensions are not feasible.
Through the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank has provided a $50 million grant to the government of Sierra Leone to implement its Electricity Access Improvement Project. The Japan Policy and Human Resource Development (PHRD) Fund has also committed a $12.7 million grant to the project. According to the World Bank, electricity access in SierraLeonee is only 26 per cent. The programme aims to enhance electricity supply to cities and peri-urban areas in the country.
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The first component of this project will see the extension of the grid in cities. New power distribution lines will be constructed in Kabala, Kailahun and Freetown. A section of the funds provided will be utilised to deploy off-grid solar systems in remote areas where grid extension is not feasible. According to the World Bank, this component will directly provide clean energy to health care facilities and schools. The bank believes that this would reduce dependency on costly fossil fuel plants and allow resources to be redistributed and spent on other pressing socio-economic needs.
The World Bank and PHRD intend to build a $6 million off-grid solar power plant plus energy storage system in Moyamba. The plant will have a capacity of 600 kWp with a storage capacity of 1,800 kWh. Communities will also be fitted with solar mini-grids based on their sizes, economic profiles and commercial factors.