The parliament of Sierra Leone has ratified the 25-year power purchase agreement and implementation agreements between the government and Joule Africa. The ratifying of the agreements marks an important milestone in the development of the Bumbuna II hydropower project which, when completed, will provide much-needed all-year round power to Sierra Leone.
Under the conditions of the agreement, local project company Seli Hydropower, jointly owned by Joule Africa and its local partner Energy Services Company (ESCO), will build an extension to the existing 50-MW hydro station, Bumbuna I, situated in the northeast of the country, adding a further 143 MW of power capacity.
Construction on the extension is anticipated to start in the second half of 2018 with operations forecast to start four years later. Seli Hydropower, will be responsible for building, owning and operating Bumbuna II and will also be responsible for operating Bumbuna I.