By Mohamed Fofanah
The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has funded Inglett & Stubbs International to undertake the feasibility studies for the construction of a 192 megawatts of hybrid power plant (LNG & Solar) near Nitti Port in Southern Sierra Leone.
If the proposed project is viable and implemented, it will be expected to provide adequate and affordable energy that is cost-efficient and environmentally friendly, the Deputy Minister of Energy Dr Eldred Tunde Taylor said at a kickoff meeting with Inglett and Stubbs International on Thursday at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel in Freetown.
A team from the energy sector and senior managers of Inglett & Stubbs are expected to visit the site Friday in Nitti, preceding a study that will determine if a power plant is feasible and viable by researching the economic, technical, legal constructibility, social impacts, and other related aspects of the proposed project in a predominantly mining area, according to Casey Laws, a Senior Project Manager at Inglett & Stubbs International.
Dr Taylor emphasized the significance of the project that it is the first large scale generation project outside of Freetown that is entirely focused on providing power to the rural areas, especially to the mining concerns in the south and southeast.
“Our ministry is excited at the potential of a decentralized energy solutions to help us tackle the deficit, which is particularly dire in rural areas and which holds back economic growth and the wellbeing of our people,” said Dr Taylor.
The US Trade and Development Agency grant was awarded on March 4, anticipating the completion of the 192 megawatts hybrid power plant feasibility study in October, Inglett & Stubbs International data showed on Thursday.
