Phase One of 25mw solar generated power costs $9m dollars – Sophie Johnson

The Country Director of Solar Era, Sophie Johnson said that the Phase One of the solar generated power in Bo and Kenema costs $9million dollars for the five megawatts (MW).
She disclosed this to this medium in an interview in Bo last Saturday after the launching of the solar farm project by the Minister of Energy, Ambassador Henry Macauley.
As the government declared energy as a priority in it agenda for prosperity with access to electricity and make it available to even the most remote communities, it created the platform wherein Solar Era in 2015 signed an agreement to provide 25megawatt of solar generated power.
The Country Director pointed out that during the rainy season there will be twenty percent deduction of the solar power, noting that since solar is not supplying maximum electricity during the rainy season “this project is adding an extra five megawatts capacity to the Bo and Kenema line running through Dodo,” she maintained.
She furthered that during the dry season when the country is experiencing low electricity that is when the 5 megawatts will fully come into operation.
The 5MW project will be constructed at the Bo-Kenema highway and Solar Era is a renewable energy project development company with offices across Africa. The company identifies local energy needs and sources the appropriate international expertise, technology and finance to deliver cost efficient solution to create local capacity and job opportunity.
According to the Director of Business at Solar Era, Albert Smith, “the whole project will take twenty years, noting that the delivery of each phase will take 18 to 20 months.”
He maintained that the expected outcome of the five megawatts project is to increase the power supply between Bo and Kenema, serving the communities of those districts, and also supplying the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) in Bo which in turn will supply the communities.
The Member of Parliament of Constituency 72, Bo district, Honourable Bashiru Sidique said this project is not a one man show, noting that he is ready to work with the contractors and also support his people.
He maintained that he has been advocating to government for a lot of developments including investment in Agriculture, mining and improve the road network.
He maintained that since the project has come to his consistency “I will continue to advocate for more projects for my consistency,” he assured.
He also pleaded with the contractors to create job opportunities for his people when the project commences so that they can have the feeling of being part of the process.
By Mohamed J Bah
Wednesday April 06, 2016

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