World Bank Report Highlights Sierra Leone’s Energy Gains from CLSG Project – Awoko Newspaper

By [email protected]

Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – Sierra Leone is among the key beneficiaries of the Côte d’Ivoire-Liberia-Sierra Leone-Guinea (CLSG) Interconnector Project, which the World Bank has recognized as a game-changer for regional energy integration.

A recent World Bank Results Brief titled “Powering Africa: The Transformational Impact of Regional Energy Projects in West Africa” highlights how the CLSG initiative is revolutionizing electricity access by enabling cross-border power trade and delivering affordable, renewable energy across the region.

Since its completion in 2022, the CLSG project has seen the construction of 1,303 kilometers of 225 kV power lines and 11 substations, providing Sierra Leone with a sustainable alternative to expensive and environmentally harmful thermal generation.

By importing clean hydroelectricity from Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone has been able to reduce its dependence on costly and polluting energy sources, positively impacting its fiscal health while expanding electricity access. In 2023 alone, the CLSG project directly benefited an estimated 2.8 million people across Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Liberia.

Unlike other regional energy projects such as the OMVS Transmission Expansion, which increases clean energy access for Mali and Senegal, or the OMVG Interconnection, which allows Guinea-Bissau to achieve 100% hydroelectric reliance, the CLSG project has positioned Côte d’Ivoire as a key exporter, while Sierra Leone and Liberia serve as primary importers.

This regional energy trade has not only strengthened Sierra Leone’s power supply but also fostered economic interdependence, highlighting the critical role of regional cooperation in West Africa’s energy sector.

With infrastructure designed to last over 50 years, the World Bank anticipates long-term success for the CLSG initiative. As Sierra Leone’s national grid expands, more communities around CLSG substations will gain access to affordable electricity, increasing the number of beneficiaries significantly.

Additionally, the project’s second circuit—built to accommodate future energy demand growth—ensures Sierra Leone’s energy needs will continue to be met in the years ahead.

However, challenges remain on the path to universal electricity access, including supply limitations and continued reliance on thermal power. The World Bank and regional partners continue to push for greater integration, expanded transmission capacity, and investment in renewable energy sources to address these hurdles.

The CLSG project represents a major step forward in Sierra Leone’s energy transformation, reducing electricity costs, improving supply reliability, and supporting economic development.

As the country continues to leverage regional partnerships and embrace renewable energy, the success of CLSG underscores the power of collaboration and strategic infrastructure investment in shaping a more sustainable future for West Africa. ZIJ/10/2/2025

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