Sierra Leone - Bumbuna Hydro-Electric Project (BHP)

The Bumbuna Hydroelectric Project (BHP) derived from a United Nations Development Program financed study (1970/71) which consisted of a 15 years electricity supply development plan for Sierra Leone. The project supplies Sierra Leone with the least cost option for addressing the energy shortage, and supplies a much needed infrastructure on which the country relies to build development projects. The hydro-power plant relieves the country from the burden of heavy expenses by reducing the need for diesel fuel for production of electricity. The project basically consists of the construction of a 50 MW hydroelectric power station at Bumbuna and the erection of a 200 km transmission line to transport the electricity produced from Bumbuna to Freetown, Makeni and Lunsar. The project when completed will result in the replacement of thermal power by relatively cheap and reliable hydropower in the National Grid. This in turn will result in i) the saving of foreign exchange spent on fuel and spare parts for diesel generation; ii) the enhancement of the development of the industrial, mining and commercial activities; iii) improvement of the standard of living of the population; and iv) consumers presently relying on their own generation will switch over to hydropower supply thus resulting in benefits to the economy.