Sierra Leone News: Bo & Kenema Need 12 megawatts
By Stephen V. Lansana
In a bid to ensure sustainable energy, Bo cities require 12 megawatts, the Regional Public Relations Officer of Electricity Distributin and supply Authority (EDSA), Sulaiman S. Koroma said on Friday.
The two cities have been enjoying seasonal electricity for six months each year in the last two decades, where residents will enjoy sustained electricity throughout the rainy , and intermitent electricity during the dry season. But the interrupted electricity distribution in the two cities came to an end shortly after the new government came to office. There has been consistent blackout in the two cities leading to an outcry from residents in the cities.
Currently, there is at least four hours of electricity in Bo per day, but the voltage is sometimes too low and could not charge even an android phone less alone switching on other electrical appliances.
Koroma claimed that Bo and Kenema are enjoying relative electricity supply. “Bo is currently using thermal machine whilst Kenema is getting electricity from the two machines at the Guma Hydro.
Speaking on the production capacity for Kenema, Mr Koroma said that the hydro is producing 2.5mw at the moment, sometimes it drops to 1.7mw. He said that before this time, there were four machines at the Guma Hydro but only two machines are currently operational.
He said that the two machines at the hydro are producing 3mw, adding that sometimes Kenema receives between 2mw to 2.5mw as the case may be because Blama Town usually tap into the electricity.
Speaking on the production capacity for Bo, he said that Bo requires about 5mw to 6mw. “Now, Bo is enjoying at least 4mw from the Independent Power Producers (IPP) company. We are really working hard together with the Ministry of Energy to ensure that there is constant and sustainable supply of electricity for Bo and Kenema,” he said. “We have up to four thermal machines operational in Bo.”
He said that the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC) is generating 3.5mw: 2.5 from the Guma hydro and 1mw from a standby thermal machine in Bo.
He said that before this time, there were four machines in the hydro that supply the two cities, but since 2010, the two machines get spoilt, and the only two working machines generate electricity for Kenema city.
He said that before 2010, each of the cities used to get 3mw, which enable the cities to enjoy seasoning electricity. “But it is difficult now for the two cities to enjoy uninterrupted electricity for six months because of the expansion of the two cities. Besides, the two machines will not be able to supply adequate electricity again.”
He added that new communities have also emerged thereby encroaching into the electricity grid. “That is the reason the ministry brings in a private electricity generation company (IPP) to aid EGTC,” he emphasized. “We want to move away from seasonal electricity, and ensure free flow of electricity even in the dry season,” he said
“If we are thinking of the future, then Bo and Kenema require 12mw. This 12mw will serve the two cities for the next two decades. But for now, we will use what we have to keep life going,” he said.
Speaking on how to achieve the 12mw, the Public Relations Officer said, “The government is currently looking at the various hydros within the country including the Guma hydro. There are features that government will expand the hydros. So, instead of using four machines, the government will expand it to 12 machines and those 12 machines with the capacity of 1.5mw each will improve electricity supply.”
Koroma said that if government could expand the hydros, then there will be no need to install thermal machines in the future, noting that a running hydro is the most reliable and sustainable way of generating electricity.
He said that the West Africa Power Pole Project will be completed soon. “This project is purely desired for Bo and Kenema, but other areas within Bo and Kenema districts including Kambia district will benefit from the project.
He said that this project will benefit the entire country and the Mano River Union, adding that they are currently upgrading the transmission line from 33KV to 66KV.
