Moyamba Town, Southern Region | Saturday, 17 May 2025 — President Julius Maada Bio has officially commissioned a 1-megawatt solar power plant in Moyamba Town, bringing round-the-clock electricity to the district headquarters for the first time in 40 years. The plant is expected to connect more than 3,000 households, marking a significant upgrade in local infrastructure.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Bio called the project a major step forward in Sierra Leone’s pursuit of sustainable energy. “This project is yet another shining example of effective collaboration between my government and our development partners,” he said. “While my administration funded the construction of the distribution network, our partners financed the installation of the solar PV generation plant and battery storage.”
He thanked the World Bank and UNOPS for their contributions and also acknowledged support from the African Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The President noted that the Moyamba plant is a pilot project that will be replicated in other district towns to improve national energy access.
“Access to energy is a human right and a critical enabler of human development, especially in the 21st century,” President Bio said, adding that reliable power supply could help grow businesses, support healthcare, and improve education in underserved areas. “If we can achieve this in Moyamba, we can certainly replicate it across the country.”
He also reflected on the town’s decades-long struggle with electricity, particularly after the civil war, when residents relied on costly and unreliable power sources. He urged the community to use the new energy access to support local development. “Reliable electricity can catalyze business growth, foster entrepreneurship, enhance education and healthcare services, and improve the overall quality of life. For too long, this has been lacking in our rural communities.”
UNOPS West Africa Director Silvia Gallo praised the government’s efforts. “The commissioning of the Moyamba Solar Plant is a clear testament that change is happening, and UNOPS is proud to support your vision of energy access for all citizens,” she said.
Kagaba Paul Mukibi, Senior Energy Specialist at the World Bank, described the plant as a milestone in Sierra Leone’s energy program. He said the Bank remains committed to expanding off-grid and standalone solar systems, particularly in schools and clinics.
Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, who chairs the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security, also welcomed the development. He called it part of a wider plan to move away from diesel-powered systems. “There is no quick fix to energy challenges anywhere in the world,” he said, noting that the Moyamba plant is the first of seven town electrification projects aimed at replacing fossil fuels with clean solar energy.
