By: Austine Luseni
Communications Specialist
Ministry of Energy
Contact : 077377042/034157390
Kabala Town,Koinadugu District, Northeast Sierra Leone, 16 July,2020————- Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, has on his first stop of a four-day visit to four district headquarter towns, signed a contract with the CL Group Limited for the electrification of the township of Kabala, Koinadugu district ,northeast Sierra Leone.The signing ceremony took place at the District Council Hall in Kabala.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Kanja Sesay noted with delight the efforts made by his ministry to realize the vision of President Bio in respect of the provision of a reliable, adequate and sustainable electricity nationwide. He stressed that the first genuine demonstration of the commitment of the Government to electrifying Kabala was what they were in Kabala to do. He described the occasion as historic, adding that the contract would see the setting up of the necessary primary infrastructure needed for any electrification drive.
Mr Sesay went further to say that when he was entering the township of Kabala with his delegation, he noticed that the only poles around were those hosting the solar lights and that he did not see cables and actual electricity poles that were needed for the evacuation or transportation of electricity to households. This according to him, was the reason why they were at Kabala, noting that no sustainable electricity project would be achieved without the establishment of the basic infrastructure like poles, cables and transformers.
The minister of energy assured the people of Kabala that they would not only benefit from the township electrification project which he was in the district to sign a contract for, but they, together with the people of Fadugu, would benefit from the CLSG West Africa Power Pool Project which would evacuate power from Ivory Coast to Liberia, Sierra Leone and then to Guinea. He maintained that once the setting up of the basic infrastructure was completed, a giant generator would be taken to Kabala for the reliable supply of electricity. He spoke about the strings that are normally attached to loans or grants and how the priorities of the Government often make it difficult for scarce resources to be allocated. He however said that he was pleased with the support given to him by the minister of finance with a view to actualizing the project.
Corporate Planning and Project Manager, EDSA, Ing.James Rogers, said that the project has officially started with the signing of the contract and that within an 18-month period, the project would be completed to make the township of Kabala start enjoying electricity. He said that within the period of 18 months, there would be installation of transformers, accessories and electrical units, and that some 350 households would be connected to the grid.
Ing. James added that the project was not a rehabilitation project, but the installation of a new network and appliances. He said the outcome of an initial project survey had suggested that Kabala needed thirteen (13) transformers and three (3) switch gears, but that the Government opted to provide twenty (20) transformers and twenty (20) switch gears in addition to other necessary items.
The minister of energy and the CL Group Limited signed the contract for the electrification of Kabala amidst unbridled joy and jubilation from residents.
Earlier on, the minister and his delegation paid a visit to the Paramount Chief, Warawara Yagala Chiefdom, PC Alimamy Gbawura Mansaray, in fulfillment of traditional courtesies. PC Mansaray was also at the ceremony to deliver the welcoming address.
The District Officer Koinadugu, Idrissa Kamara, Koinadugu District Council authorities and other district stakeholders graced the occasion.
The representative of the minister of finance Dr Alhassan Mansaray and the Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Energy, Hon.Kekura Vandi were part of the delegation that left Freetown.
The team will be in Kambia tomorrow for a similar occasion. Mr Kanja Sesay has promised not to rest until the energy dreams of the President were realized.
