The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Finance, has projected an allocation of Le127.5 billion to the Energy Sector for 2020.
The Ministry of Finance noted that Le124.1 billion of the total projected allocation to the Ministry of Energy will go towards energy subsidies including fuel for Independent Power Providers (IPPs).
The Government also committed Le42.1 billion for the electrification of six district capital towns in the country, whilst Le5.0 billion was also committed to the rehabilitation of the Electricity House; Le5.0 billion for the rehabilitation of EGTC thermal Plants, and Le2.0 billion for the rehabilitation of the Dodo hydro dam.
The Ministry of Finance has also disclosed that the Abu Dhabi Fund; the African Development Bank; the World Bank, DFID, and Indian Exim Bank will disburse Le324.4 billion towards the implementation of various energy projects.
Amidst all of these allocations, residents of Freetown and other regional cities in the country, with the exception of Makeni, are all struggling to have electricity for at least twelve hours a day.
Some towns like Lunsar are permanently out of electricity for the past nine months, which is seriously affecting petty trading like cold water, ginger beer, cool aid etc., and other economic activities.
While many are pointing at the inter-political wrangling between the Ministers of Finance and Energy as the major problem for the electricity challenges; others are insinuating about the lack of resources to pay the Turkish Karpowership as the main reason for the drop in electricity supply especially in Freetown.
Media spinners for government have attributed the problem to the aging electricity and distribution network systems in the capital.