By Joseph S. Ansumanah
The Ministry of Energy, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has, on the 30th May, 2018, held a consultative meeting at the Miatta Conference Centre, Freetown. The aim of the meeting was to review the Sierra Leone Energy and Bioenergy policies.
In his address, the Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, affirmed that, with support from the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP), a country led project was designed to complement the National Energy Strategic Plan, noting that, the 2009 National Energy Policy was to advocate for the promotion of renewable energy sources and the existence of inadequate regulations and standards, guidelines and bylaws pose major challenges to the Directorate in the Ministry of Energy in fulfilling its mandate on promoting renewable energy.
He explained that, adequate enforcement cannot be attained without requisite reviewing and updating, as well as harmonization of fragment policies regulations and legislation. The Minister called on national, international and civil society organizations to play momentous role in advancing a sustainable energy development in Sierra Leone.
In his statement, the Director of Energy, Ing Benjamin Kamara, reiterated that, energy is a driving force to the socio-economic development of any nation and, where there is sustained energy more investments will surface. He said the consultative meeting is to harmonize the National Energy Policy and a National Bioenergy Policy and Action Plan.
The Programme Specialist for Energy Environment and Natural Resource Management at the UNDP, Tanzila Sankoh, stated that, the old policy failed to comply with the new standards because it failed in addressing the renewable energy source.
She informed that, the UNDP and Global Environment Facility provided funds to review the National and Bioenergy policy and she called on the Sierra Leone Parliament and Cabinet to adopt the new policy for implementation after its formulation, which, she said, will help improve the energy sector in Sierra Leone.