Announcement of International Development Association (IDA) Assists Third Power Project in Sierra Leone on July 14, 1977

.World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. • Telephone: (202) 393-6360 IDA NEWS RELEASE NO. 78/5 July 14, 1977 IDA ASSISTS THIRD POWER PROJECT IN SIERRA LEONE Sier.ra Leone will receive a c~edit of $8.2 million from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank Affiliate, to help finance a Third Power Project. The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa will loan $5 million to help meet project costs. In order to provide a more reliable power supply and to meet the needs of an expanding economy, improvements in the power sector are urgently needed. Only about ten percent of the country's total population of approximately three mil lion is served by the public power sector. The Project will assist the Sierra Leone Electricity Corporation (SLEC) to fully meet present power demands and projected requirements through 1980 and restore a measure of reliability in the supply of electric power required to sustain the country's economy. • The credit will help finance the installation of a diesel- electric generator and distribution facilities in the capital city of Freetown and the expansion of generating capacity in ten isolated provincial centers. It will also finance data processing equipment and provide for the completion of the feasibility and design studies for the Bumbuna hydro- electric scheme. The first two Power Plant loans in 1964 and 1968 helped SLEC finance the installation of three diesel-electric units at the King Tom power.station in Freetown and diesel-electric sets in provincial centers as well as expansion of associated distribution facilities. The credit will be on standard IDA terms of 50 years including 10 years of grace. The credit is interest free except for a charge of 3/4 of 1% for administrative expenses. NOTE: Money figures are expressed in US dollar equivalents • • FOAM NO. 1121 (5-76) T E CHN I CA L D A T A PROJECT: COUNTRY: TOTAL COST: Third Power Project Sierra Leone $1 5. 2 mi l 1 ion • IDA FINANCING: Credit $8.2 million at standard terms OTHER FINANCING: The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa - $5 million Government of Sierra Leone IMPLEMENTING ORGANJZATION: Sierra Leone Electricity Corporation Electricity House Siaka Stevens Street Freetown, Sierra Leone PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Third Power Project will install a 9.2 low-speed diesel-electric generating unit at the present King Tom power plant as well as construct priority distribution facilities in Freetown; expand the generating capacity amount by 2.3 MW in ten isolated provincial centers; provide data processing equipment; and technical assistance and • consultants' services to complete the feasibil!ty study of the Bumbuna hydro-electric scheme and design studies necessary to the construction of the hydro plant's first stage. PROCUREMENT: Data processing equipment by international competitive bidding from firms with local service facilities. CONSULTANTS: Consultants' services required to (a) complete the feasibility study of the Burnbuna gydro-electric scheme and design studies necessary for the construction of the hydro plants's first stage , (b) provide financial management service and (c) plan the King Tom power plant extension and the 33 kV distribution in Freetown and supervise their construction. ECONOMIC RATE OF RETURN: ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 12. 5 overa 11 1978 - 0 - •