Sierra Leone Transmission and Distribution Networks Project - Cables and Conductors Supply

Project Information:

Project Name: Procurement of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Services for Design, Supply, Installation and Commissioning of Transmission and Distribution Networks in Six (6) Districts Headquarter Towns- Kambia, Kabala, Kailahun, Bonthe, Pujehun and Moyamba.

Owner: Ministry of Energy (MOE)

Delivery Date: 2021.11

What We Supplied:

150 Sqmm AAC (Un-Insulated Compact Round Conductor)

4x120mm2, 0.6/1 kV, AL ABC Cable

4x95mm2, 0.6/1 kV, AL ABC Cable

4x70mm2, 0.6/1 kV, AL ABC Cable

3x70mm2, 6.35/11 kV, AL ABC Cable

3x150mm2, 6.35/11 kV, Copper XLPE/PVC/SWA/PVC Cable

3x95mm2, 6.35/11 kV, Copper XLPE/PVC/SWA/PVC Cable

4x120mm2, 0.6/1 kV, Copper XLPE/PVC/SWA/PVC Cable

4x150mm2, 0.6/1 kV, Copper XLPE/PVC/SWA/PVC Cable

4x240mm2, 0.6/1 kV, Copper XLPE/PVC/SWA/PVC Cable

70 Sqmm Bare Copper Earthing Conductor

70mm² Earthing Cable ( PVC/PVC Sheathed)

120mm² ACSR conductor

Ground wire-ACSR 35/6mm²

70mm² Earthing Bared Conductor

Project News:

Sierra Leone’s energy needs are under resourced and the scarcity of a reliable energy supply is one of the key impediments to Sierra Leone’s economic and social development. The country’s installed power capacity per capita is among the lowest in the world with approximately 105 MW available for a population of over 7 million in 2018. According to a UNDP report, energy consumption in the country is dominated by biomass, accounting for approximately 80% of energy used. The largest source of biomass energy is wood fuel, followed by charcoal; the 2015 Population and Housing Census found that wood and charcoal were used for 96.9% of households’ cooking needs. Imported petroleum products are the next largest source of energy for power generation at around 13% of energy consumption, according to the MTNDP.

The GoSL has recognised an urgent need for access to electricity for the people of Sierra Leone. Only 15% of the total population of Sierra Leone currently has access to electricity, and only 2.5% of its rural population had access in 2016, according to World Bank data. This is well below the average of 42.8% for the population of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The difficulty in accessing electricity is also compounded by significant transmission and distribution network problems, resulting in losses of 34.5% of the electricity supply in the Freetown Capital Western Area alone in 2017. The national transmission system consists of a 161 kilovolts (kV) transmission line extending from the Bumbuna hydroelectric plant to the Freetown substation, as well as an electricity grid for the town of Makeni and a 33 kV transmission line from Bo to Kenema. The GoSL reports that funding has been made available from ADB/DFID for rehabilitation and expansion of the transmission between Bo and Kenema, with project completion in 2020). Other transmission lines are being developed (with some funding reported to be in place, and completion in 2020-2021).

The mining sector, which until 2014 generated Sierra Leone’s biggest export in the form of iron ore (see the Natural Resources section for more details), is heavily reliant on in-house captive generation to supply its significant power needs. Outside of the industry the use of private generators is prevalent. Recent estimates suggest that around 35,000 diesel generators are in use in Sierra Leone, providing a capacity of approximately 180 MW. Off-grid power generation in 2012 totalled approximately 260 MW.