Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio is set to launch a groundbreaking renewable energy initiative, the Salone Off-grid Renewable Energy Acceleration Initiative (SOGREA). This €34 million (830 million New Leones) project represents a significant step toward the country’s sustainable development goals and aims to provide clean, reliable electricity to rural communities.
By 2027, SOGREA aims to install minigrids with 5.2 megawatts of peak solar generation capacity, benefiting 25,000 households and 2,800 businesses across approximately 60 communities. During a high-level meeting at State House, EU Ambassador Jacek Jankowski and Dr. Kandeh Yumkella briefed President Bio on the project’s progress. The EU is contributing €34 million, including €22 million in direct investment support and technical assistance, while the Sierra Leone government has pledged 50 million Leones.
The initiative employs a catalytic investment model that combines public and private sector support, with implementation agreements already signed. President Bio emphasised his government’s commitment to establishing necessary legal frameworks through Parliament and the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (SLEWRC).
SOGREA is expected to create jobs, boost local economies, and advance Sierra Leone’s “Big Five Game Changers” initiative, particularly in technology and innovation. This project positions Sierra Leone as an emerging leader in green investment and renewable energy development in West Africa, marking a crucial step toward universal electricity access and climate resilience.
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