Ghana’s largest independent power producer, Sunon Asogli Power Ghana Limited, plans to expand into Sierra Leone.
The electricity producer intends to deploy between 20MWp and 50MWp solar power PV capacity in Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone, within one year and another 160MW Hydropower plant over the next four years.
Sunon Asogli estimates that the total cost for the two projects will be about US$700 million and believes that the solar PV plant will help supplement power shortages in the capital.
The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Energy regarding these projects’ development.
The Sunon Asogli delegation met with Sierra Leonean officials and the President, Julius Maada Bio, who assured them of the government’s support in ensuring the timely delivery of the projects.
The giant power producer is planning to deploy in Freetown, Sierra Leone, a 20MWp-50MWp solar PV in one year and another 160MW to be known as Benkongor Hydro plant in four years.
Speaking to energynewsafrica.com in an interview, the Business Development Manager of the Company, Mr Elikplim Apetorgbor indicated that the expected total investment cost for the two projects is about USD$700 million.
According to him, the 20MWp – 50MWp solar PV plant deployment by the Sunon Asogli Power Gh. Ltd is urgently needed to augment the power supply in the capital, Freetown, and other parts of the country as well as to complement power supply for the future construction works of the 160MW Bengongor Hydro Power plant in four years.
Touching on the deal, he explained that it was reached in a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministry of Energy, representing the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone on one hand, and the Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Ltd on the other hand, after a meeting with the experts of the Ministry of Energy and other key stakeholders on 29th March, 2021.
The 7-member delegation later met with the Ministers and officials of the Ministries of Finance, Lands and Internal Affairs after which they paid a courtesy call on H.E. the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, who was elated about the visit and promised his utmost support to ensure the delivery of the projects within the shortest possible time.
Leading the investors from Ghana was H. E Mrs Frances Anderson, Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to Ghana.
She was assisted by Mr Philip Brima Kabba, the First Secretary to the High Commission.
The Sunon Asogli Power Ghana Ltd team, which comprised Mr Qun Yang, Chairman of Sunon Asogli Power Ghana Ltd ; Mr. Wang Zhengjun, Deputy General Manager of the West Africa Development Unit; Mr Elikplim Kwabla Apetorgbor, and Mr. Li Kanglin, Energy Experts and Business Development Managers of West Africa Development Unit (WADU) of Shenzhen Energy Group was led by Togbe Afede XIV, a Development and Investment Expert who is also a Director of Sunon Asogli Power Ghana Ltd.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com