Parliament Ratifies Key Energy Agreements

By: Sulaiman Jalloh

In a significant step toward enhancing energy access, the Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone, on Thursday, July 10, 2025, during its 57th plenary session, unanimously ratified key energy agreements aimed at improving electricity supply and boosting rural electrification across the country.
Access to energy remains a major challenge for residents in rural communities.
The ratified agreements include the African Development Fund Project Preparation Agreement for the Sierra Leone Rural Electricity Access Project (SLREAP), signed on January 15, 2025, and the Subsidiary Grant Agreement between the Republic of Sierra Leone represented by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Energy for the project’s preparation phase.
Presenting the agreements to Parliament, Deputy Minister of Finance I, Kadiatu Allieu, highlighted key components of the initiative and emphasized the strategic importance of strengthening the country’s energy infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.
Chairperson of the Committee on Energy, Hon. Alhaji Keikura Vandi from Bo District, welcomed the initiative and underscored the significance of the agreements. He noted that the projects are primarily focused on rural electrification and discussed the high cost of electricity supply. He provided a statistical overview of how kilovolt (kV) lines and transmission networks would be distributed nationwide. He said the agreements were non-controversial and firmly in the national interest, urging speedy ratification.
Contributing to the debate, Hon. Tamba Kellie from Kono District endorsed the agreements and called on Parliament to set aside political differences, advocating for swift approval in the name of national development.
In his remarks, the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Abdul Kargo, praised the agreements and reiterated their importance to Sierra Leone’s energy sector. He acknowledged the complexity of coordinating such projects and encouraged the government to take a leading role in overseeing implementation. He also proposed that loan arrangements be explored for the execution phase of the project.
Concluding the debate, Acting Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie, informed Parliament that a Special Implementation Unit had already been established by the Ministry of Energy to manage the project. He outlined the objectives of the agreements and confirmed that, following the preparation phase, full-scale implementation would proceed as planned.
“The ratification of these agreements marks a critical step in Sierra Leone’s efforts to expand electricity accessibility, particularly in underserved rural communities,” he concluded.