The Minister of Energy, Amb. Henry Olufumi Macauley today signed a Compact with the UK Government through the Minister of State for DFID, the Right Honourable Grant Shappes, at the Facebook Headquarters in London.
The event was the launching of the Energy Africa initiative, which seeks to bring rapid home solar power solutions to rural homes.
This fits squarely with President Koroma’s Agenda for Prosperity and his wish to have electricity everywhere in Sierra Leone, in all regions and Chiefdoms, as quickly as possible. In his remarks, Amb. Macauley lauded President Koroma for his strong leadership which has helped win the fight against ebola and his mandate given to the Minister to double energy access and triple generation within 24 months as a key part of the Post Ebola Recovery Strategy. The event also saw only one more Country in Africa, Nigeria, signing a similar agreement.
In attendance and participation were the Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osibanjo, who signed the Nigerian agreement, the Governor of Kaduna State.in Nigeria, Mallam Nasiru el Rufai, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and other top dignitaries.
Part two of the event was an exhibition of solar equipment and solutions and witnessed strong statements of commitment from the private investors and a finance houses.
This takes Sierra Leone into the big league for solar for rural electrification and the Ministry of Energy is planning it’s own launching of the National Renewable Energy Program later this year.
