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Signing ceremony

On December 19, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a grant agreement with the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Freetown, to provide grant aid of up to 2,070 million yen for the Project for the Extension of Power Distribution Network along the Freetown Peninsula.

In Sierra Leone, infrastructure, including power generation and distribution facilities, has been severely damaged as a result of the civil war, which began in 1991 and lasted approximately 10 years. Although reconstruction is progressing, it is not able to meet the accelerating increase in electricity demand, and the power supply is inadequate even for the provision of basic social services such as education and healthcare. To break free from poverty—the cause of the civil war—it is essential to promote industrial development, and improving access to electricity is critical as the foundation of such development.

Under this project, a substation and power distribution network will be constructed in the southern area of Freetown Peninsula, where the country’s capital is located. In the northwestern part of the peninsula, Japan has constructed power distribution lines under the past grant assistance project called “The Project for Urgent Improvement of Power Distribution System in Freetown”, and the World Bank is developing the northeastern part of the peninsula. Together with these endeavors, this project will electrify the entire peninsula.

This project will contribute to the achievement of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) Goals 7 (Affordable and clean energy), 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure), and 11 (Sustainable cities and communities).

Details for the project are provided below.

[Basic project information]

Country	The Republic of Sierra Leone
Project title	The Project for the Extension of Power Distribution Network along the Freetown Peninsula
Planned implementation period	37 months, including detailed design work and the bidding period
Executing agency	Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority
Target region, facilities	Southern area of Freetown Peninsula
Specific project details (provisional)	①Facility construction/equipment procurement Construction of transmission/distribution facilities ②Consulting services Detailed design work, bidding assistance, construction/procurement supervision