afrol News, 20 December - With the expiration of the deadline set for the attainment of uninterrupted electricity supply in the capital Freetown on 20 December, the government of Sierra Leone boasts of recording significant progress in its emergency energy recovery drive.

For more than three years, residents of Freetown have been grappling with persistent power blackout, which negatively impacted on economic development in the country.

Critics believed that the ousted regime's inability to address the epileptic power supply was one of the major factors responsible for its removal from office.

But the newly elected Sierra Leonean President, Ernest Bai Koroma, vowed to provide constant and uninterrupted power supply in Freetown.

A thermal electricity company based in Belgium, Global Trading Company (GTC) last month won the contract to provide thermal power for Freetown by 20 December.

Last Tuesday, Freetown residents rejoiced the arrival a 15 mega watts plant. Its arrival came on the heels of that of a 10 mega watts plant at the weekend.

Jubilant supporters of President Koroma's governing All People's Congress government lined up on major streets of Freetown to accompany the new machines to the Kingtom power station. The highly charged supporters wore T-shirts with the inscription "Bye-Bye to Kabbah Tiger, welcome Ernest Electricity." Sierra Leoneans named the ex-president after an Asian generator called Tiger, which was common in the country when he [Kabbah] was in office.

An official of GTC told afrol News that they would produce 15 mega watts on a 24 hour basis for the National Power Authority (NPA) which in turn choose the mode of distribution. He said the late arrival of the machines was a factor responsible for not meeting the government's 20 December deadline. The work would be completed by the December 23.

Minister of Energy and Power, Haja Hafsatu Kabbah said the arrival of the plants is an indication that “electricity is here.” She said the government is also doing repairs and maintenance work on the old machines and NPA facilities.

Freetown needs up to 70 mega watts power. Residents of the city and its suburbs are anticipating to celebrate their Christmas and New Year feasts in bright, instead of darkness.

By Edward Kagbo

© afrol News

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