Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, along with other cities, has been grappling with prolonged power outages for weeks, attributed to outstanding electricity bills owed to providers.
This outage has significantly disrupted daily activities, notably affecting crucial operations in major hospitals.
Karpowership, the primary supplier of electricity to Freetown, has scaled back power provision drastically, reducing supply from 60 megawatts to six megawatts, citing an unpaid bill totaling approximately $48 million (£38 million). Despite assurances from the finance minister, the debt remains unresolved.
Additionally, CLSG, a supplier based in Ivory Coast, has curtailed its electricity supply to southeastern cities such as Bo, Kenema, and Koidu due to unpaid arrears, reducing supply from 32 megawatts to 10, with the exact debt owed remaining unclear.
The state-owned hydroelectric dam in Bumbuna, which serves Makeni and nearby areas, is also experiencing diminished output, generating only six megawatts due to low water levels during the dry season. Consequently, Freetown receives less than two megawatts from this source.
Finance Minister Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, currently unavailable for comment as he is out of the country, faces mounting pressure amidst widespread frustration expressed by Sierra Leoneans on social media over the persistent blackouts.
Karpowership, a major player in the floating power plant industry, has adopted a stringent stance on overdue payments. Last October, it similarly disrupted power supply to Guinea-Bissau’s capital over unpaid bills, resulting in a city-wide blackout.