Sierra Leone Pushes Mining Firms to Boost Renewable Energy Demand
TLDR
- Sierra Leone urges mining companies to transition to national grid by 2040 as part of $10.9 billion energy plan for renewable energy sources.
- Mining, accounting for 70% of export earnings, currently relies on private electricity due to grid limitations.
- Transition aims to attract investment, improve profitability, and expand electricity access to reduce carbon emissions.
Sierra Leone is urging mining companies to connect to the national grid as part of a $10.9 billion energy-transition plan aimed at increasing capacity 15-fold to 4,500 megawatts by 2050, with 90% coming from renewable sources. Mining firms, which self-generate over 500 megawatts using diesel, would need to transition to grid power by 2040, per the recently launched roadmap.
Mining accounts for 70% of Sierra Leone’s export earnings but has relied on private electricity generation due to the national grid’s current 300-megawatt capacity. Connecting mining companies to the grid could attract private investment and improve utility profitability, said Kandeh Yumkella, chair of a presidential initiative on climate change. Less than 30% of Sierra Leone’s population currently has electricity access.
The country plans to import energy from the West African Power Pool while increasing domestic hydro and solar production. Officials emphasize the plan could lower costs for miners, expand access to households, and reduce carbon emissions.
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Key Takeaways
Sierra Leone’s strategy aligns economic growth with environmental goals. Connecting mining firms to the grid creates an “anchor demand” that makes renewable projects more viable while helping mining operations meet global decarbonization standards. However, the plan depends on securing foreign investment and resolving debt-related energy supply issues. As international markets and regulators prioritize low-carbon operations, Sierra Leone's renewable energy expansion could help its resource sector remain competitive globally while improving domestic electricity access.
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