Sierra Leone signed with the British government a compact which will help it bring its electrification rate to 100% by 2025. The project which targets all six million Sierra Leoneans falls under the country’s post-Ebola recovery plan.

Solar holds a key position in the realization of this project. Government initially plans to exempt taxes on renewable energy products to make them accessible to at least one million residents, by 2020. Off-grid and domestic solar systems will also be provided to rural populations.

Sierra Leone thus becomes one of the 10 nations taking part in UK’s Energy Africa program which aims to facilitate global access to power in sub Saharan Africa, by 2030.

“Sierra Leone has been the first to convert the MOU to a Compact by the sheer speed and intensity of our actions. This partnership will develop awareness and appetite to rapidly scale up investment in solar energy and will galvanize investors, development financing institutions, the Government of Sierra Leone and communities to collaborate and expand energy access through solar power solutions,” said Sierra Leonean Minister of Energy, Henry Macauley.

In Sierra Leone, 13% of the nation is electrified and 1% only of its rural population currently has access to power.

Gwladys Johnson