Projects

Bumbuna II, Sierra Leone

The Bumbuna II hydropower project, located on the Upper Seli River in Northeast Sierra Leone, is the country’s largest infrastructure project and is a key part of the Government of Sierra Leone’s long-term Energy Plan.

The Project involves building an 97MW extension to the existing 50 MW Bumbuna I facility, and the construction of a new upstream storage reservoir and 55 MW power plant at Yiben. Once built, Bumbuna II will add 152 MW of new capacity and, critically, will provide Sierra Leone with reliable, all-year round affordable electricity.

Joule Africa has been successfully developing the Project since 2011 and has completed the vast majority of all critical development steps. A 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) has been signed with the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) and ratified by Parliament, the engineering, construction and procurement (EPC) contract preferred bidder selected, an operations and maintenance (O&M) contract tendered, the environmental, social and health impact assessment (ESHIA) completed, and most of the associated implementation and management plans established in compliance with international performance standards and guidelines.

Seli Hydropower, the local project company, will be responsible for building, owning and operating Bumbuna II after which it will be transferred to the GoSL to operate for the next 75 years, and beyond.

For more information, please visit the Seli Hydropower website: selihydropower.sl

Why Bumbuna II is the Right Project for Sierra Leone

► Sierra Leone needs power for development, and power demand is growing fast

►  Bumbuna II is the only low carbon alternative that can serve this power demand

► Bumbuna II will be a transformative power project for Sierra Leone, providing energy security and reducing dependence on thermal power generation and imports

►  Bumbuna II will complete the Bumbuna hydropower scheme and thereby provide firm power through all seasons for the country

► The Project will be the least cost project in the sector, underpinning the country’s energy generation mix, and will serve the wider region as the power pool integration continues

►  Bumbuna II will balance intermittent solar generation, unlocking the potential of installing much more low carbon solar into Sierra Leone’s energy mix

►  Bumbuna II will also share its benefits with local communities, implemented through community development programmes

►  Detailed environment and social plans are in place and in implementation to avoid, minimise, mitigate and compensate for the impacts on the environment, biodiversity, and local communities

 

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Kpep, Cameroon

Joule Africa has been developing the extensive hydroelectric power potential of the Katsina Ala river basin in the northwest region of Cameroon since 2012. The area around the Katsina Ala river is among the least developed in the country, however, the region’s mountainous topography and significant river network make it well suited to hydropower development. Joule Africa has the exclusive development rights to develop a hydropower cascade, granted Government of Cameroon, and has been actively developing the Kpep site.

Kpep is a 283 MW storage hydropower project, optimised to deliver firm power. It will connect to the southern international grid and sell power to the partially state-owned utility, Eneo. The Project has been identified as a priority power project for the country by the Government of Cameroon and will ensure that Cameroon’s growing demand for electricity will be supplied from renewable energy sources at a sustainable cost.

Joule Africa has completed the first stage of feasibility studies and environmental and social scoping report and has established the principles for a commercial framework with Eneo and the Government of Cameroon. Joule Africa is developing the Project in partnership with its Chinese partner, WIETC, which holds a 20% stake.

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