US fund grant to boost electricity access in Sierra Leone

US-based The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) fund has granted $480 million to Sierra Leone to enhance electricity access throughout the country. The five-year grant is expected to provide reliable and affordable electricity to 4.6 million people.

Currently, only 30 per cent of the population in Sierra Leone have access to electricity, with rural areas seeing access rates drop below 5 per cent. The grant will support three major projects aimed at expanding power network coverage, improving reliability, and enhancing the sustainability of the energy sector.

This comes after the resignation of Sierra Leone’s energy minister in April, following an electricity crisis linked to millions of dollars in unpaid debts to energy providers.

Attribution: Reuters

Subediting: M. S. Salama