FREETOWN—Sierra Leone has finally switched on the long-delayed Bumbuna hydroelectric dam in a final test phase that will see it power the energy-starved country's main hospital, prison and government agencies.
President Ernest Bai Koroma released energy from the dam into the national grid at a launch ceremony this month where he voiced hope it would help Sierra Leone recover from a 1991-2002 civil war that killed tens of thousands and wrecked the economy.
"As a nation, we cannot turn the economy around and improve the standard of living of our fellow citizens without an adequate supply of energy," Koroma said of the dam, which has taken over 30 years to build.
Supported by donors including the World Bank and Japan, the dam currently provides about 20MW of power and will expand to 50MW next month. There are plans for it to further extend its coverage with 300MW over time if further investment is secured.
Much of Sierra Leone still runs on diesel-guzzling private generators. The cost of power remains a stumbling block to attracting the business needed to regenerate the economy.
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