What is the Energy situation in Sierra Leone?

Very few people have access to electricity in Sierra Leone: Approximately 10% to 12% of the urban population and only around 2% of the rural population. Petrol or diesel generators are often used because most of the regions lack a stable public power supply.

Does Sierra Leone have fossil fuels?

In 2013, Sierra Leone had a population of 6.17 million as shown in Table 1. In 2015, total production of electricity was 28 ktoe of which 46.4 came from fossil fuels and 42.8 per cent from hydro sources.

Does Sierra Leone have hydroelectricity?

Hydroelectricity is the main energy source in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone is known to have numerous potential hydroelectricity sites (above 20) that have total capacity 1,200 MW according to the 1996 Lahmeyer International Power Sector Master Plan.

How many people have access to electricity in Sierra Leone?

Only 23% of Sierra Leonean have access to electricity, which is below the Sub-Saharan average of 30%.

What crops are grown in Sierra Leone?

The land is suitable for the cultivation of a wide range of crops including rice (the country’s staple food), cassava, maize, millet, cashew, rubber, ginger, vegetables, fruits, and sugarcane; cash crops such as cocoa, coffee, and oil palm; and the rearing of livestock.

Is biomass a energy?

Biomass is a clean, renewable energy source. Its initial energy comes from the sun, and plants or algae biomass can regrow in a relatively short amount of time. Trees, crops, and municipal solid waste are consistently available and can be managed sustainably.

Does Sierra Leone have fishing?

Most of the artisanal fishing activities occur around the estuaries of Scarcies River, Sierra Leone River and Sherbro River, and also around Yauoni Bay. The industrial fishing fleets mostly operate in deeper waters of the northern sector.

Does Sierra Leone have forestry?

According to the U.N. FAO, 38.1% or about 2,726,000 ha of Sierra Leone is forested, according to FAO. Of this 4.1% ( 113,000 ) is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest. Sierra Leone had 15,000 ha of planted forest.

Is coffee grown in Sierra Leone?

Despite producing coffee, Sierra Leone isn’t known for its local coffee culture. Many people opt instead for instant coffee from brands like Nescafe. “In the 1890s, it was stenophylla coffee that dominated the market,” says Sarmu. It was the preferred coffee of the French, and traded frequently into the 1920s.

Is rice the only food crop in Sierra Leone?

“Rice is Sierra Leone’s staple food but the country’s agricultural sector is largely subsistence and does not produce sufficient rice for domestic consumption, not to talk of export,” reports NewsWatch Sierra Leone, an online publication.

Why biomass energy is bad?

From emissions of particulate matter (aka soot), nitrogen oxide, which contributes to ground-level ozone pollution, various carcinogens, and carbon monoxide, it’s clear that the air pollution created when power plants burn biomass is toxic and dangerous. …

How clean is biomass energy?

Regardless of the source of the fuel – low carbon or high carbon – burning stuff is just inherently a dirty process. The combustion of biomass in power plants releases harmful air pollutants such as particulates, NOx, and SOx.

What are the energy goals of Sierra Leone?

Sierra Leone requires huge investment support in the energy sector to meet the SEFA goals by 2030. Successful execution relative to the goals would mean increasing access to electricity to about 100%, increasing energy efficiency to a level of 12-15% and increasing renewable energy level to about 7,000 ktoe.

What kind of resources does Sierra Leone have?

The country has substantial deposits of mineral resources such as diamonds, rutile, titanium, bauxite, iron ore, gold, and chromium. Sierra Leone is considered by the UN classification as a Least Developed Country (LDC) with significant inequality in income distribution among its people.

How big of a country is Sierra Leone?

Sierra Leone is situated in Western Africa with a total land area of approximately 72,325 sq. km. According to Statistics Sierra Leone (2012), the population is estimated at 6.0 million in 2011 with a growth rate of 3.3%.

Where is the capital city of Sierra Leone?

According to Statistics Sierra Leone (2012), the population is estimated at 6.0 million in 2011 with a growth rate of 3.3%. The capital city of Freetown is located in the western area of the country and is home to approximately 1.25 million people (~21% of the total population).