MCC Discusses Energy Sector Challenges and Commitments

By: Ahmed Yusuf Turay

The National Coordinator of the Sierra Leone Compact Development Unit (SLCDU), Ndeye Fatu Koroma, highlighted the key commitments of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the challenges facing the energy sector during the weekly government press briefing at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, Miatta Conference Centre, Freetown.

Koroma elaborated on MCC’s role in the implementation of short, medium, and long-term strategies for the energy sector, led by Hon. Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yomkelleh. She acknowledged the challenges of coordinating various sectors involved in energy distribution but emphasized that the MCC is committed to supporting these efforts. She stressed that the energy sector faces financial limitations, with Sierra Leone unable to provide the required funds for nationwide energy distribution. Therefore, MCC’s support is vital in addressing these financial gaps.

She further called for increased cooperation among key sector players to implement the ambitious plans outlined by Dr. Yomkelleh. Koroma emphasized the need for public-private partnerships and urged other development partners to invest in energy infrastructure. She acknowledged the necessity of a long-term approach to stabilize the energy sector, noting that the government cannot allocate $200 million for energy transition alone, given other competing priorities.

Koroma reiterated that MCC’s focus is on energy transition, distribution, and governance reforms, which include attracting private sector investment, improving procurement processes, and enhancing energy resilience.