Sierra Leone will be among four countries in the Mano River Union set to benefit from the West African Power Pool project (WAPP) worth US$ 440 million, according to Joseph Mayah, deputy-managing director of the Liberia electricity corporation.
He told a delegation from the WAPP-CLSG in Monrovia that upon completion the three countries would be electrified from neighboring Cote d'Ivoire through the Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone-Guinea (CLSG) energy project as mandated by an ECOWAS Energy protocol, signed in 1999.
The overall objective was to interconnect member states with quality, cheap and affordable energy market in the sub region.
“This project is going to cost US$440 million ($323 million Euros), and it will take up to four years to be completed,” Mr. Mayah told the media in Monrovia, adding that the objective was to build a 1,535km line from Man in Cote d'Ivoire through Yekepa, Liberia, and from Buchanan to Monrovia (to the Mount Coffee Hydro), and then to Bo Waterside onward to Sierra Leone.
Mr. Mayah said the 1535km line would initially bring 120 megawatts, and at its full completion, “it will bring up to 240 megawatts to the three member countries. The objective of this exercise is to import electricity at a reasonable cost for our citizens.”
Amadou Diallo, secretary general of WAPP-CLSG project, told the New Democrat in Monrovia that: “This project is to interconnect Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea with quality, cheap and affordable electricity.
“You have roughly 1,400 meters of transmission lines, and eleven high voltage substations. This project is to connect all Liberians, from Man, Sanniquellie, Ganta, Grand Gedeh, Maryland.”
Mr. Diallo was upbeat about the progress of the project and said funding for the project would come from World Bank, the African Development Bank and other donors.
He did not say whether or not funding for the project would be given as loans
(C) Politico 29/08/13
