The Parliamentary Committee on Energy has,at the weekend, concluded a four-day serial oversight on Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), and Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGCT) in Kenema, Bo, Makeni, Bumbuna Hydro, Port Loko, Dodo Hydro and Lungi Power Stations.
During the tour, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Keikura C. Vandy, said they were taking the venture in order to identify the challenges andsuccesses of service providers for further recommendation to the authorities. He disclosed that Government was spending too much money on the energy sector, and they as the people’s Representatives must investigate the problems and try to proffer solutions that are related to the provision of sustainable electricity for job creation and basic amenities. “We have discovered so many challenges and some successes, and we are going to discuss this with the authorities including the Ministers,” he assured.
Leading the Committee on a tour at Bumbuna Hydro, Peter Brima, a Civil
Engineer working for SaliniImprgilo, said the Bunbuna Hydro Tower was
93 meters high and, during the rains,because of the pick load they generate 39 to 50 megawatts. He told MPs that there was a room for expansion of the dam to produce more electricity.
When the Committee arrived at Bumbuna hydro, the Operation Chief
Supervisor, Musa Fawudu, told MPs that the dam delivered power based on the water level in the reservoir.
“Presently, as we are in the dry season, the total outflow of water generates 9 to 10 megawatts,” he disclosed, and pointed out that the water level ranges between 10 and 15 centimeters and is very low. He said that, during the height of rainy season, the inflow of water is greater than the outflow and between 212 and 230 meters above sea level. He informed the MPs that they cannot operate the two turbines right now, because water level will go down very fast and the reservoir will empty.
Recommending to MPs, what the authorities will do to improve on electricity,Fuwuda said they should have a thermal power station to supply the demand of Freetown.
“We are currently giving 5 to 6 megawatts to Freetown on a daily basis, which is too low, while a car power ship can supply as high as 50 to 60 megawatts,” he revealed, adding that Bumbuna Hydro cannot constantly supply throughout the year.
CiroSerafeno, Head of Operations at Bumbuna, said they were having 12 Sierra Leoneans in their midst and they have started training them in all activities.
“I teach them and give them all my acknowledgements,” CiroSerafeno disclosed and added that “My target is to teach Sierra Leoneans”. He said all engineers were involved in general activities.
In Makeni, Port Loko and Lungi they discovered that several meters were faulty and inadequate for supply. Other issues were capacity building of staff and lack of essential tools to perform technical jobs and transparency and accountability relative to updating divisions on sales of supply.
Staff members also complained that their management was spending so much money on experts hired to do a job that they are capable of doing, adding that if they had the required training they too could perform similar functions.
The Committee also discovered that EGTC staff members were working in dilapidated and moribund office spaces in Port Loko, and theft of electricity as well as high demand for meters were amongst other serious concerns unearthed.
These similar situations were evident in Kenema, Bo and Dodo Hydro.