Kenema and Bo’s Energy Lifeline Dodo Dam Expansion Under Review
Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkellah, Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security, recently led a team of administrative and technical officials from the Ministry of Energy and the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC) on an inspection tour of the Dodo Hydroelectric Dam located just outside Kenema, eastern Sierra Leone.
The Dodo Hydroelectric Dam has long been a crucial source of electricity for the residents of Kenema and Bo, particularly during the dry season. Since taking office in 2018, President Bio has prioritized upgrading and possibly expanding the dam to enhance its capacity and reliability.
Welcoming the delegation, Paramount Chief of Dodo Chiefdom, PC Alhaji Mohamed Aruna, expressed his community’s support for the government’s efforts to improve the facility. He highlighted the steps taken by the chiefdom to mitigate the impacts of climate change and pledged continued cooperation.
Dr. Yumkellah conveyed President Bio’s keen interest in the dam, emphasizing its significance not only to Kenema and Bo but potentially to other areas such as Kono, should the expansion proceed. He noted that feasibility studies and expert engineering reports support the dam’s potential for expansion, which could also spur industrialization in the region.
“We are here on behalf of President Bio to evaluate the possibilities for expanding the dam and to present our findings to him,” Dr. Yumkellah said. He stressed the importance of understanding the reasons behind the seasonal drop in power generation and the need to implement effective climate-proofing measures for the facility. He urged the local population to avoid deforestation and to work collaboratively towards community development.
Kenema District Council Chairman, Mr. Mohamed Sesay, and Kenema City Mayor, Thomas Baio, expressed their enthusiasm about the potential expansion of the dam. They reaffirmed their councils’ commitment to supporting projects that enhance social services in the district.
Milton Ngeba, Director General of the EGTC, also addressed the gathering, underscoring the importance of ongoing reforms in the energy sector. He noted that these reforms are closely linked to the Feed Salone agenda, aimed at improving food security and overall economic growth.
The tour of the Dodo Hydroelectric Dam signifies a critical step in the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance renewable energy infrastructure and tackle climate change challenges, ultimately contributing to Sierra Leone’s sustainable development.
