The government of Sierra Leone has been awarded $9-million in funding through the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) /Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (AFDF) financing facility to develop the 6 MW Freetown Solar Park project.
At a total project cost of $18-million, the solar park would include institutional and critical human resource arrangements for sustainable management of the facility.
Sierra Leone Minister of Finance and Economic Development Dr Kaifala Marah stated that Advanced Science and Innovation Company (Asic), in conjunction with Oasis Gulf Investment (OGI), would facilitate co-financing and management of the project in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Ministry of Energy.
“We would like to extend our gratitude to Irena for coordinating the selection process, the ADFD for extending $9-million as part funding to the government of Sierra Leone and Asic/OGI that will coordinate additional $9-million as private equity.
“The project will place Sierra Leone on the global [renewable energy] map and further strengthen the existing cordial relationship between the governments of Sierra Leone and the United Arab Emirates,” the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development said in a statement.