By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
The Director-General of the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), Joe-Lahai Sormana says personnel caught stealing electricity have been summarily dismissed.
Sormana disclosed during the Government weekly press briefing held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Freetown, on Tuesday 26th March, as he spoke about the challenges the power distributor faces.
He did not give details on the number of personnel sacked but also mentioned that other people in communities steal electricity and urged that they are exposed in light of the financial drain their actions have caused EDSA.
“The Electricity Generation Transmission Company (EGTC) is responsible for generating and transmitting power,” he said as he clarified EDSA’s primary role as distributor.
According to him, EDSA buys power from independent power providers such as the Karpowership, Bumbuna, and CLSG in Ivory Coast, and the amount of money they expend in purchasing power is more than what they sell to the consumers.
“We buy on average 21 US cents, while we sell at 18 US cents,” the EDSA boss said, adding that they already experience losses even before selling to consumers.
Over the last six years, he recalled that one hundred and ninety-four thousand (194,000) households were using 52 megawatts of power but demand has increased to three hundred and twenty thousand (320,000) households.
“As a government, we have increased the access to electricity from about 16% to 36%,” Sormana said.
The EDSA boss however admitted that electricity rehabilitation and expansion have not met the power demand, despite having done a lot to improve demand by increasing the megawatts from 52 to 70.
Based on their projection, to meet the demand of power in Freetown will require between 120 to 130 megawatts, for a 24 24-hour supply of power to the city.
Sormana was forthright in their inability to meet the current growing demand for electricity but said they are working with Government and donor partners to address the problem.
“We are doing some work at Wellington and beyond. We hope to finish by June this year. When it is completed, that would help to supply more light,” he stated, adding that they are extending the network to the far west as well, requiring huge resources in the process.
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