The Bumbuna II hydropower project, located on the Upper Seli River in Northeast Sierra Leone, is the country’s largest infrastructure project and is a key part of the Government of Sierra Leone’s long-term Energy Plan.
The Project involves building an 97MW extension to the existing 50 MW Bumbuna I facility, and the construction of a new upstream storage reservoir and 55 MW power plant at Yiben. Once built, Bumbuna II will add 152 MW of new capacity and, critically, will provide Sierra Leone with reliable, all-year round affordable electricity.
Joule Africa has been successfully developing the Project since 2011 and has completed the vast majority of all critical development steps. A 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) has been signed with the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) and ratified by Parliament, the engineering, construction and procurement (EPC) contract preferred bidder selected, an operations and maintenance (O&M) contract tendered, the environmental, social and health impact assessment (ESHIA) completed, and most of the associated implementation and management plans established in compliance with international performance standards and guidelines.
Seli Hydropower, the local project company, will be responsible for building, owning and operating Bumbuna II after which it will be transferred to the GoSL to operate for the next 75 years, and beyond.
For more information, please visit the Seli Hydropower website: selihydropower.sl
Why Bumbuna II is the Right Project for Sierra Leone
► Sierra Leone needs power for development, and power demand is growing fast
► Bumbuna II is the only low carbon alternative that can serve this power demand
► Bumbuna II will be a transformative power project for Sierra Leone, providing energy security and reducing dependence on thermal power generation and imports
► Bumbuna II will complete the Bumbuna hydropower scheme and thereby provide firm power through all seasons for the country
► The Project will be the least cost project in the sector, underpinning the country’s energy generation mix, and will serve the wider region as the power pool integration continues
► Bumbuna II will balance intermittent solar generation, unlocking the potential of installing much more low carbon solar into Sierra Leone’s energy mix
► Bumbuna II will also share its benefits with local communities, implemented through community development programmes
► Detailed environment and social plans are in place and in implementation to avoid, minimise, mitigate and compensate for the impacts on the environment, biodiversity, and local communities