By Austine Luseni, Communications Specialist, Ministry of Energy
Sierra Leone’s Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has stressed that one of the priorities of the government in the energy sector is to improve the sector’s financial and technical viability against the backdrop of a challenging economic situation.
Dr. Jalloh was speaking at an engagement with stakeholders in the energy sector. He said as government is not shying away from keeping the social tariff structure, the EDSA is equally under obligation to improve its financial gains by reducing commercial and technical losses.
He gave a comprehensive update on the need to honor the country’s commitment to CI Energy and CLSG as it is vital to accessing competitive pricing. He stated that he will be leading a delegation of Ministers and technical staff to Abidjan and Accra respectively to engage authorities in those countries to maintain previous energy load levels and at the same time, explore new avenues to increase imported power.
The Vice President also mentioned the urgent need to power big businesses including mining companies in order to increase the fiscal fluidity of EDSA to enable the utility meet its energy requests.
On the issue of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, MCC, he said news of the compact is coming at a critically important time for the country’s energy sector, noting that there is now a practicable calendar to inform and guide the implementation of the Compact, subject to US congressional approval.
Dr. Jalloh said private sector participation has driven the implementation of the $44 million threshold program and negotiations for the Compact, adding that private sector participation is evident in the areas of generation and commercialization.
Deputy Energy Minister I, Dr. Eldred Taylor, thanked Vice President Jalloh for sharing his experience and for playing a key role in the CI Energies power purchase agreement.
With the energy sector and the Feed Salone agenda being inextricably linked, reforms continue in the sector.
