Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Ministry of Energy has issued a stark warning to the public: power cuts are imminent. In a press release dated June 9, 2025, the Ministry revealed that Turkish electricity provider Karpowership has formally notified the government of its decision to suspend operations in Sierra Leone.
According to the statement, Karpowership served notice on May 28, 2025, that it will cease supplying electricity to Freetown as of midnight on June 12, 2025. The company cites unpaid invoices as the reason for the shutdown.
Despite the breakdown in the power supply agreement, the Ministry noted that Karpowership has agreed to maintain a minimal 6-megawatt supply to ensure essential services—including hospitals and other critical facilities—remain operational during the transition.
The Ministry also acknowledged the strain this development will place on the national grid and warned of “some load shedding” in the coming days. However, it assured the public that the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) is undergoing “aggressive reforms” aimed at stabilizing supply and that the power cuts “will be properly managed.”
With Karpowership’s exit imminent, all eyes are now on the government and EDSA to see how swiftly they can implement contingency measures to avoid a prolonged energy crisis in the capital. KXL/10/6/2025
