Communities across Sierra Leone are facing tough times as electricity supply has been drastically reduced in major towns like Makeni, Bo, Kenema, Magburaka, and Koidu. The blackout follows a steep drop in power output from Karpowership, the Turkish company that supplies a significant portion of the country’s electricity.

Once delivering 50 megawatts (MW) of power, Karpowership has now scaled down to just 6MW — a move driven by two years of unpaid fees and six months of unreimbursed fuel costs from the government.

Hospitals Struggling, Darkness Deepens

The situation is especially critical in Makeni, where the Government Hospital is battling to stay operational. Its backup solar system has been overwhelmed, especially during this rainy season. As a result, patients on life-support machines are now at serious risk, and healthcare services have been severely affected.

Meanwhile, power to Makeni has dropped further — now only 3.5MW is being received, leaving much of the city in total darkness. This has sparked fear of increased deaths in hospitals and a severe hit to daily life and businesses.

Why the Power Was Cut

In a press release, Karpowership explained that the ongoing power cuts are a result of the financial strain caused by the government's failure to settle outstanding payments. Despite its willingness to support Sierra Leone, the company said it could no longer sustain operations without proper funding.

At a press briefing on June 13, Energy Sector Lead Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella confirmed the reduced power supply. He reassured citizens that Freetown still has stable electricity, thanks to alternative sources including: