By Ralph Sesay
The Government Budget and Statement of Economic and Financial Policies for 2020 have projected Le 311 billion Leones as government subsidies for the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) to ensure the sustainable supply of electricity to the country.
Government has also disclosed that between January and September 2019, government also provided Le 98.7 billion also as subsidy to EDSA.
The current trend, according to the Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, is not fiscally sustainable for government.
The Minister told newsmen that electricity pilfering in most areas of the capital and major towns, old connections, distribution and transmission lines were key challenges for EDSA in terms of raising the much needed income from the supply of electricity to homes, offices and other industrial installations.
The Ministry together with partners and regional and international donors are currently hosting a conference on renewable energy and clean cooking conference for the Mano River Union.
President Bio has told the conference that improving the supply of energy was an imperative for any meaningful development.
He underscored the point that energy facilitates human capital development activities and outcomes while also supporting innovation and ICT.