By mohamedj.bah@awokonewspaper.sl
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulation Commission (SLEWRC), with support from the World Bank, hosted a public consultation on Friday, August 30, 2024, at the Ministry of Energy Conference Room in Freetown. The event focused on reviewing the 2011 Act No.13, which governs the electricity and water sectors in Sierra Leone. The consultation brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from across the sector.
Mr. Emmanuel Mannah, Director General of SLEWRC, outlined the purpose of the consultation. He explained that, over the past two weeks, SLEWRC has been engaging with various stakeholders nationwide to gather feedback on the draft review of the Act. This consultation specifically addressed issues within the electricity sector, with plans to conduct a separate session focusing on the water sector.
Mr. Mannah emphasized the Commission’s four core functions: regulating the electricity and water sectors, setting rates for these services, and monitoring service quality. He noted that the 2011 Act has been a fundamental tool in their regulatory efforts. However, due to evolving market dynamics and the emergence of new players, the existing framework has become increasingly challenging to apply effectively.
To address these challenges, SLEWRC decided to review the 2011 Act with the assistance of the World Bank, which engaged Consultant Alfred Paul Juwah to support the process. During his presentation, Consultant Juwah highlighted several key areas in need of revision. He explained that many provisions in the current Act require updating to better reflect contemporary practices and needs.
Juwah outlined the methodology used in the review, which included a thorough examination of the Act section by section, as well as comparative analysis with similar legislation from countries like Ghana and Nigeria. He stressed the importance of the interpretation section of the Act, noting that it should include definitions for technical terms related to engineering, economics, and other relevant fields to make the legislation more user-friendly.
One significant recommendation was to expand the scope of Section 2 of the Act, which addresses the application of the Act to service providers. Juwah suggested broadening this section to ensure that it encompasses both current and future service providers, whether public or private.
The review also proposed the establishment of additional regulatory bodies and the enhancement of the Board’s governance role within the Commission. Sections such as Section 6 (1) were also scrutinized and discussed during the review process.
Following the presentation, stakeholders contributed their input to the draft review, aiming to ensure that the updated Act will remain relevant and effective in the future. The consultation underscores SLEWRC’s commitment to improving regulatory frameworks and adapting to the evolving needs of Sierra Leone’s electricity and water sectors. MJB/2/9/2024
