Upgrading and expanding the national transmission and distribution network – how far?
The transmission and distribution network in the capital city of Freetown was constructed in the 1960s.This network was one year old before the country gained its independence which explains why the transmission and distribution lines are outdated and have outlived their useful life.
Incidences of fallen poles, punctured cables and cut wire are common occurrences, all pointing to the fact that the transmission and distribution lines are out modeled.
In 2008 alone ten transformers blew up due to age and overloading. Due to the out-datedness, technical line losses, a result of poor transmission amount to 40 percent of power generated.
In a government document called the Agenda for Change which is the second poverty reduction strategy for 2008 to 2012, the incumbent APC government promised to modernize the transmission and distributions lines in readiness to deliver the increased power from Bumbuna as it is one of their top priorities.
Regardless of the urgent need to overhaul and upgrade the entire network in the city that will reduce technical losses, decrease outages and improving quality and reliability of power supply hence increase transmission and distribution capacity from 15MW to around 100MW, the government in its wisdom has diverted it attention in constructing sub power stations in the capital to compliment the Bumbuna Hydro which stands questionable instead of changing the transmission and distribution lines.
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