THE Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a US government development fund, has granted $480 million to Sierra Leone over five years to provide reliable and affordable electricity to 4.6 million people. This significant investment aims to address the nation’s limited electricity access, which currently reaches only 30 percent of the population, dropping to less than 5 percent in rural areas.
Expanding power access across Sierra Leone
The grant will fund three key projects aimed at expanding the coverage and reliability of Sierra Leone’s power network while also focusing on sustainability. The projects will help strengthen the country’s electricity infrastructure, making energy more accessible to millions of citizens, especially those in underserved rural areas.
Addressing Sierra Leone’s energy challenges
In April, Sierra Leone faced a severe electricity crisis due to tens of millions of dollars in unpaid debts to energy providers, which led to the resignation of the country’s energy minister. This grant comes as a much-needed boost to Sierra Leone’s struggling energy sector, providing resources to help stabilise and expand power access.
The MCC’s support is a crucial step towards bridging the energy gap in Sierra Leone, ensuring more citizens benefit from consistent electricity supply and improving living standards across the country.
