Kanja Sesay, the minister of energy for Sierra Leone, resigned on Friday amid a prolonged electrical crisis that has left the country’s capital, Freetown, and other major cities in the dark for extended periods. Freetown now has electricity again after the government announced that it will pay off a portion of its enormous debt to energy companies at the same time he resigned.
Sesay took full ownership of the problems Sierra Leoneans were experiencing as a result of the irregular electricity supply in his resignation letter. The importance of the situation and the government’s resolve to find a solution were demonstrated when President Julius Maada Bio’s office announced that the Energy Ministry would now be directly under the president’s control once he left.
The government disclosed that it had managed to pay $17 million out of the $48 million owed to Turkey’s Karpowership, the company responsible for a significant portion of the electricity supply to Freetown. A Karpowership spokesman confirmed the payment and announced that full electricity service had been restored to the capital. “We are pleased to confirm that the power supply at full capacity to Sierra Leone has been restored,” stated the company.
The main cities of Bo, Kenema, and Koidu, as well as Freetown, were badly impacted by the electrical deficit that started in mid-April and lasted for many days. Karpowership informed Reuters on April 19 that the Sierra Leonean government’s failure to pay $48 million has resulted in a reduction of the electricity supply from 60 megawatts to barely six megawatts. The company clarified that the situation had gotten worse since it had not received payments for a “long period of time,” which prevented it from paying its gasoline suppliers.
This is not the first time Sierra Leone has faced such severe power outages due to unpaid debts. In September, Karpowership had cut off power to Freetown because of an outstanding $40 million debt, which caused serious disruption throughout the entire city. Hospitals are finding it extremely difficult to function as a result of these blackouts. At least one baby has died as a result of the blackouts, according to Dr. Jeredine George of the major children’s hospital in Freetown, and medical staff had to use mobile phone flashlights to perform surgeries. Social media users expressed their displeasure and desperation about the situation, triggering a public outcry.
Additionally, the government statement mentioned a payment of $1.5 million to TRANSCO-CLSG, another power provider that supplies electricity to the southern and eastern regions of the country. However, the total amount owed to this provider remains unconfirmed.
