Sierra Leone Commissioned its First Solar And Battery System at Miro Forestry And Timber Products in Tonkolili by way of Reducing Carbon Emissions to Improve Sustainable Forestry

By Abdul Rahman Bangura–

Photo Credit: Unsplash

NEW AFRICA BUSINESS NEWS (NABN) Freetown, Sierra Leone –This signifies a unique crossroads for sustainability in Sierra Leone’s Forestry Sector. The renewable energy system will be competent to give 25% of the factory’s power, slashing its dependence on fossil fuels and giving substantial savings on Miro’s current power costs.

Alhaji Kanja Sesay – Minister of Energy, for Sierra Leone hailed the project, saying: “This new fully financed solar solution will help Miro to move away from costly and polluting generators and to stand by their broader corporate commitment to sustainability.

“The installation of a solar and battery system at Miro Forestry today by CrossBoundary Energy is an indication of another, more positive trend underway on the continent, and in our own country. Investors and their financial partners are increasingly calling on leading enterprises to decarbonize and to find ways to leverage renewable energy solutions.”

The project is the first saleable and industrial solar power investment pact for a forestry business in West Africa. The CrossBoundary-Miro Forestry solar and battery system is also the first with a Battery and Energy Storage System (BESS).

Minister Kanja Sesay was joined by proxies from USAID and leadership from Miro Forestry and CrossBoundary Energy for a button-pushing ceremony to officially commission the site. Establishing a first solar plus battery energy storage project intended for at Sierra Leone’s forestry sector.

CrossBoundary Energy joined the Sierra Leone market in 2017, enabled through support from a USAID Joint Development Agreement and $1 million in grant funding, which was fitted by CrossBoundary Energy.

Mariama Diallo, the USAID private sector engagement specialist in Sierra Leone, told a credible source of energy is significant for economic growth. “The United States is very proud to have subsidized this renewable energy project to help Sierra Leonean businesses grow and create jobs

For New Africa Business News (NABN) Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports,  Africa Correspondent