Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Energy Sector Lead, Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, has in a press conference on Friday 13th June, 2025, confirmed that the Karpowership has been shutdown and is currently providing only 6 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
The situation has raised concerns regarding the energy supply in Freetown; however, Dr. Yumkella reassured the public that the Energy Sector’s proactive planning has ensured sufficient electricity supply to mitigate the impact of the shutdown.
Dr. Yumkella outlined the current sources of electricity for Freetown, stating that the total supply amounts to 56.29 MW. The breakdown of the electricity sources is as follows:
Bumbuna: 18.6 MW
CLSG: 23 MW
Nigata Machine at Kingtom: 9 MW
Karpowership: 5.6 MW
He also confirmed that an extra 10 MW has been secured from Guinea to bolster Sierra Leone’s energy generation, with ongoing negotiations to finalize the costs.
The Minister further announced that the Blackhall Road Power Plant, a nationally owned facility, is set to undergo repairs within three months. Spare parts for the plant are already in the country, and once operational, it is expected to contribute an additional 16 MW to the grid.
Addressing the financial implications of the Karpowership arrangement, Dr. Yumkella revealed that the government has paid approximately $320 million to Karpowership over the past six years, emphasizing that this arrangement is not economically sustainable for Sierra Leone.
In related news, Deputy Minister of Energy I, Edmond Nonie, announced plans to inspect meters at major Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) customers, including factories and hotels, to ensure accurate billing. EDSA currently serves 350,000 customers, with 700 large customers accounting for 40% of its revenue.
To improve accessibility, the Ministry of Energy has also poised to decentralize EDSA’s customer care services, which are presently centralized at Electricity House in Freetown.
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