Ministry of Energy approves $189 million dollar Infinitum Energy project to proceed with Government support – as Freetown to benefit from 30 megawatts of baseload electricity.

Freetown | 26th July 2024 | Vertex Media

Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Energy has recently approved Infinitum Energy Group (iEg) to proceed to PPA for the provision of 30 megawatts of electricity to the Western Area by transforming waste to energy.

This approval was granted on Thursday 25th April 2024, by the outgoing Minister of Energy [Alhaji Kanja Sesay] prior to his resignation..

Infinitum Energy Group (iEg) has been in Sierra Leone since July of 2021 in its bid to help overcome one of the country’s perennial challenges, being reliable and affordable electricity. Throughout the years, Infinitum has duly engaged government authorities, MDAs, and local councils, as well as complying with policies, regulations, and procedures of the government. Getting the approval to proceed to PPA was the height of it all.

During the years of engagement with government authorities, Dr. Yassin Kargbo, iEg’s Country Director, has worked tirelessly to make this vision a reality in Sierra Leone. His resilience and perseverance have brought the project to this stage. Despite the challenges encountered along the way, Yassin’s love for his country and his desire to see that Freetown’s energy challenges are solved, gave him the energy and dedication to ensure the implementation of this massive energy project.

In September 2023, he facilitated a meeting in New York between the President of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, and the CEO of Infinitum Energy Group Lindsay Nagle during the United Nations General Assembly. The President expressed his government’s willingness to support the project in the presence of top government officials, including the Chairman of the Special Initiative on Climate Change, Food Security and Renewable Energy – Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, as well as the Ministers of Finance and Agriculture.

The Infinitum Energy project for Sierra Leone is an ambitious project with a total investment of 189 million dollars that will provide reliable 30 megawatts of clean energy to Freetown and its surrounding areas, by transforming waste to electricity.

The project is unique in its model and scale, and complements the government’s agenda which seeks to solve three major challenges in the country, namely:

Provision of 30 megawatts of electricity – this will help solve the city’s energy problems and the overreliance on the Karpowership. This will ensure Sierra Leone’s compliance to the global call to revert to means of generating renewable electricity through sustainable means.

Waste collection for energy generation – The project will necessitate the collection of waste in the city of Freetown and beyond for energy production at its energy plant. It means the issues of waste management and sanitation in the city will be addressed by this project.

Provision of employment opportunities – approximately 2,000 jobs will be generated directly and indirectly by the Infinitum Energy project. This means that young Sierra Leoneans will be employed in various sectors of the project, ranging from waste collection in the communities to electricity production at the energy plant.

Apart from the major benefits highlighted above, the project will also inject a whopping 189 million dollars into the Sierra Leone economy. This will add direct foreign exchange to the country’s foreign reserve.

Infinitum Energy takes community social responsibility seriously, with the company committing a whopping sum of $3 million dollars the help solve social issues in the communities of operation. These fund will be used in diverse programs, including health, education, road maintenance, and water supply to name a few..

By Ibrahim Sorious Samura