At Energy Roundtable …
CLSG BOSS ASSURES SUBREGION
The General Manager of TRANSCO CLSG, Mohamed M. Sheriff, has said that “Energy independence requires the cooperation of all”.
He made this remark when he was addressing the Energy Roundtable Conference that was organized by the Sierra Leone Ministry of Energy and the World Bank on the 18th and 19th of March 2024.
The Conference, which took place at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, was borne out of a driven plan of providing affordable energy for the country, attracting energy stakeholders in the Mano River region and other international players.
The conference highly moved President Julius Maada Bio, who said in his keynote address, that the theme of the roundtable engagement resonates well with the structure, spirit, and intent of his government’s medium-term national development plan that was recently launched at the Bintumani Conference Center. It is anchored within the timeframe of 2024–2030, and energy availability is one of the key drivers to deliver on the pillars of the plan.
Mohammed M. Sheriff said the landmark CLSG project can only stand as a symbol of possibility when all put hands on deck and work together.
While addressing the Energy Roundtable Conference on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, under the theme: “Sustainable Energy for All: A Countdown to 2030,” the TRANSCO CLSG Boss emphasized that the 2030 deadline for “Sustainable Energy for All” demands immediate action, stressing that progress cannot wait for rural communities and growing industries.
“TRANSCO CLSG is ready to deliver reliable and affordable power across the region while operating and maintaining the CLSG line as a symbol of our shared progress”, he disclosed, adding that CLSG will deepen collaborative partnerships with their neighboring grid operators, as well as champion the development of a skilled workforce to manage the energy systems of the future that will explore creative financing models to build the clean energy infrastructure the subregion deserves.
He said CLSG’s five operational substations in Sierra Leone are proof that they are life transformers. As a legacy, the project is no longer a dream, but one that brings power and opportunity to millions across the four Mano River Union member nations.
He noted that the completion of the transmission line and substations would indicate an agreement of the collaboration all the partners can achieve together.
“The remarkable success lies in using this infrastructure to its fullest potential”, he pointed out and urged the stakeholders to invest in expanding the transmission capacity and generation, as well as consider opportunities like a second circuit along the existing line.
He implored member countries and concerned stakeholders to harmonize regulations and pricing that reflect the true cost of the energy needed to accelerate development.
“The harmonization of regulations will allow easy access to all users, including mining companies, both at the national and regional levels. Therefore, we must honor our payment obligations to ensure the sustainability of the power line,” he said.
He told the Conference that CLSG stands as a vital linchpin within WAPP’s bold mission to advance regional energy trade and it’s therefore a power superhighway that enables consumers to share surplus energy, optimize resources, protect against shortages, and reduce reliance on unsustainable energy.
“TRANSCO CLSG remains firm in its commitment to the transition to sustainable energy. Our transmission line is the backbone that provides pathways to integrate solar, wind, and hydropower for a cleaner and more resilient CLSG region. The CLSG substations in Sierra Leone are along many renewable energy potentials”, he disclosed.
The milage of a 1,303-kilometer high-voltage transmission line, weaving through the four nations including Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea indicates the power of regional collaboration, recalling that in 2012, a pivotal International Treaty cemented the commitment of the CLSG countries to regional energy integration within the West African Power Pool (WAPP).
“Our goals directly support this conference’s aspirations, which include enhanced regional connections, access to electricity for all, socio-economic development, and cost-effective, reliable power”, he said.
The General Manager applauded the steadfast support from stakeholders on the CLSG project, which include the CLSG national Governments for their steadfast commitment which built the bedrock upon which this endeavor rests; the TRANSCO CLSG Board for their guidance which has been indispensable throughout and to the Financial and Technical Partners including the World Bank, African Development Bank, European Investment Bank, and KFW Development Bank for their visionary support that made the CLSG dream a reality.