By Musa Kamara
Electricity House | The outgoing German Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Jens Kraus-Masse, paid a farewell courtesy visit to the office of the Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF) and Energy Sector Lead, Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella. He was warmly received by Chairman Yumkella and the Chief Technical Adviser (CTA) of PI-CREF, Mr. Peter Kaindaneh.
Ambassador Kraus-Masse expressed deep appreciation for the strong working relationship he has enjoyed with Dr. Yumkella and his team during his tenure. He commended the significant strides Sierra Leone has made in the energy sector, particularly the increased access to regional renewable power sources and the revitalization of key infrastructure initiatives.
“Sierra Leone is making commendable progress, especially in energy generation,” said Ambassador Kraus-Masse. “You have done well in facilitating the flow of regional power into the country. Kudos to President Bio and the government for bringing the MCC compact back on track. That’s a major win. In less than a year, Dr. Yumkella, your leadership has made a notable difference.”
The Ambassador emphasized the importance of sustaining efforts in the renewable energy space and called for more private sector investment in the sector. He also underscored the need for structural reforms, particularly at the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), to ensure financial sustainability and efficient service delivery. “There must be measures in place to enable EDSA to pay Independent Power Producers (IPPs) promptly, including the smaller ones. Solar and hydro are a good combination for Sierra Leone’s energy future,” he noted.
In response, Dr. Yumkella thanked Ambassador Kraus-Masse and the people of Germany for their continued support to Sierra Leone across several development sectors, especially energy. He acknowledged Germany’s role in providing both national and international experts embedded at PI-CREF, who have been instrumental in developing a range of energy projects.
Providing an update on the current energy landscape, Dr. Yumkella noted that, “We have prioritized leveraging more affordable regional power, and we are optimistic that an additional 52MW, entirely from renewable sources, will boost energy generation for the country. We are also repairing generators at Blackhall Road, which will bring in another 16MW,” he explained.
The Chairman also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve transmission capacity. “The Southern Corridor Transmission Line remains our top priority as we work to establish a dispatch center. We are exploring possibilities for the Northern Corridor as well. The MCC Compact is a huge boost, and we are glad to see it back on track.”
Dr. Yumkella assured the Ambassador that steps are being taken to reform and strengthen EDSA, including improved revenue collection and increased private sector participation in management and operations.
“We are determined to make things better,” said Dr. Yumkella. “With continued support and collaboration, Sierra Leone will soon be on a clear path to energy security.”
The farewell meeting ended on a warm note, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation and sustaining progress in the renewable energy sector.
