Windfall for Energy Ministry Sierra Leones Minister of Energy, Oluniyi Robin-Coker has on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone signed a US$21.8 million grant to boost power supply in the country. The grant is under the West African Power Pool (WAPP) emergency power supply programme designed to provide sustainable solution to the energy crisis in the affected countries. Sierra Leone is to receive this grant alongside three other ECOWAS member states who are to receive US$108 million to boost power generation capacity in their respective countries. The agreement for the grants was signed by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, representatives of the three states and the West African Power Pool (WAPP), on 16th December 2013 in Abidjan, on the margin of the 71st Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers. The Cotonou-based WAPP, which provides the mechanism for pooling the energy resources of the region and coordination of trade in the sector, will serve as the implementing agency for the programme. Mali will get US54.34 million dollars, about half of the total grant, followed by The Gambia with US31.90 million, while Sierra Leone will receive the remaining US21.8 million. The energy programme was launched with similar grants extended to Guinea Bissau and the Republic of Guinea. The present grants, to be disbursed in two tranches over 12 months, will enable the beneficiary states rehabilitate and maintain identified equipment, build capacity and develop platforms for monitoring and coordination. This is in continuation of ongoing programmes to address the energy deficiency in Member States within the framework of regional instruments including the ECOWAS Treaty that calls for the promotion, integration and development of energy projects and cooperation in the sector. It is also in response to the directives by regional Heads of State and Government, the most recent being during their 42nd summit held in Yamoussoukro in February 2013. The President of the Commission said the release of the grants will not only improve energy access to the citizens, one of the cardinal programmes of the Community, but also contribute to stimulating the economic development of the beneficiary Member States and the region.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Feb 2014 09:51:58 +0000