Ministries of Energy,Planning and Economic Development, Environment Visit Sigimi Waterfall to Assess Hydroelectric Potentials
Austine Luseni
Communications Specialist
Ministry of Energy
Contact:077377042/034157390
Sigimi, Bagruwa Chiefdom, Moyamba District, Saturday August 24, 2024. A high-powered delegation, comprising officials from the Ministries of Energy, Planning and Economic Development and Environment, has visited the Sigimi waterfall in Moyamba district to assess the hydroelectric potentials of the site with a view to transforming the project from its profiling status to a bankable state.
Deputy Minister of Energy l,Dr. Eldred Taylor,said President Julius Maada Bio was committed to increasing access to energy across the country through a variety of generation sources,adding that Sigimi is one of the hydro potential sites in the country for which feasibility studies have been done.
“We are committed to fostering collaboration,and that is why the Minister of Development is here to foster this kind of collaboration.
“I am pleased to inform you that, through her support,we have been able to get some funds from the Ministry of Finance to ensure that we develop this project to a bankable state,” he said.
Dr. Taylor went on to say that once the essential details of the project were put together, it would be very easy to attract or solicit investments, noting that even though certain preliminary studies had been done in years past, changes in certain baseline parameters over the years require those studies to be updated.
“and very soon, we are going to launch the procurement process for consultancy services for the project,” he concluded.
Minister of Planning and Economic Development,Kenyeh Barlay,said she was at Sigimi together with other ministers to assess the potentials of the waterfalls for renewable energy.
She said studies had taken place first in 1985 and then in 2012 with respect to the viability and profitability of the project,noting that government was committed to supporting the project because it would provide electricity for Moyamba district and other areas in the country.
“We are also taking the social impact assessment aspect into consideration and for which we have started having dialogue with all the community stakeholders,” she said.
Section Chief of Walima Section,Francis Kamara,said his community was happy to receive the delegation,noting that the young men and women of his chiefdom would benefit from job opportunities if the project was implemented.
He said his people were relishing the prospects of enjoying reliable and affordable electricity supply in the chiefdom and district.
With the energy sector and the Feed Salone agenda being inextricably linked,reforms continue in the sector.