Sierra Leone is seeking to attract US$3.5bn of investments from the private sector to upgrade its electricity industry and to increase tenfold power output. The western African country, which was on civil war between 1991 and 2002, has one of the lowest power generation capacities in Africa, with just above 100 MW for 5.6 million people. Sierra Leone estimates at US$3.5bn the necessary investment to reach an installed capacity of 1,000 MW by 2017. The government has already signed a memorandum with Hydrochina to build two hydropower plants at a total cost of more than US$800m. The plants at Bekongkor and Mange would produce a total of 260 MW. The existing 50 MW Bumbuna dam could be expanded by 200 MW at a cost of US$800m; construction could start as early as 2014 (approval given to Joule Africa). A joint venture of Mujimoto Sierra Leone, China National Electric Engineering Company (CNEEC) and New Generation Energy are planning to develop up to 500 MW of CSP plants. Jindal Steel and Power has signed a memorandum to build a 350 MW coal-powered plant in the northern Port Loko district. Sierra Leone is also considering opening the transmission network to private investors.
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