In a weekly press conference held by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, Sierra Leone’s Energy Sector Lead, provided a comprehensive update on “Mission 300,” the nation’s ambitious $2.2 billion energy compact.
Dr. Yumkella highlighted the recent full endorsement of the energy compact from the World Bank and development partners in New York. He emphasized the significance of this swift approval, noting it underscores the government’s commitment to accelerating energy development and regional cooperation.
The core objective of Mission 300 is to fundamentally repair the country’s energy landscape. The plan envisions increasing the installed electricity capacity from 271 megawatts to over 1,000 megawatts. It also aims to improve the national electrification rate from 36 percent to 78 percent and expand the share of renewable energy sources from 46 percent to nearly 52 percent over a five-year period.
Dr. Yumkella pointed out that Mission 300 represents the single largest electrification effort in Africa, with a transformative potential to make power accessible for all, especially in rural areas.
A key component of the strategy addresses a major public health concern. “About 90 percent of the population does not have access to clean cooking,” Dr. Yumkella explained, noting that women and children bear the brunt of exposure to harmful charcoal and firewood, with an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 people affected annually.
The initiative is built on five central pillars: expanding generation capacity, pursuing regional energy integration, decentralizing renewable solutions such as mini-grids and solar home systems, powering key social sectors including health and education, and reforming the national utility to achieve financial sustainability.
Financially, the plan requires approximately $1.4 billion in investments. This includes roughly $600 million expected from independent power producers, plus funding allocated for generation, transmission, distribution, off-grid solutions, clean cooking facilities, and capacity building.
“This plan is not just Salone’s plan. It is backed by international players,” Dr. Yumkella stated, citing commitments from the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and regional partners. He added that the previously stalled Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact has been reintegrated into this broader strategy, with about a quarter of the funding originating from the MCC.
Dr. Yumkella concluded with a call for partnership and confidence, affirming that the country is ready to take bolder steps toward energy independence, economic growth, and improved public health, with all aims set for achievement by 2030.
