China Eximbank provides a loan for the 2.2 MW Charlotte Falls Mini Hydropower Project (Linked to Record ID#2258 and #53053)

Project narrative

In 2011, the Export-Import Bank of China committed a loan for the 2.2 MW Charlotte Falls Mini Hydropower Project. The total cost of this project was $9.77 million, but the size and nature of its financial commitment is unknown. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) provided a grant for the project. The project involved the construction a mini-hydropower dam that is able to generate 2,200 kilowatts of electricity, and the installation of a 13-kilometer power transmission line to connect the dam to the country’s power grid. The mini-hydro dam would only provide electricity during the rainy season. Hunan Construction Engineering Group Corporation was the contractor responsible for implementation. A formal groundbreaking ceremony took place in December 20, 2011. However, construction did not begin until March 2012. Then, after an Ebola outbreak, the project was suspended on August 17, 2014. The project was eventually relaunched, and on April 16, 2016, SIPPR Engineering Group sent a delegation to monitor and assist the project. The dam was ultimately handed over to Sierra’s Leone Ministry of Energy in December 14, 2016, and it was officially commissioned on December 20, 2017. The 2.2MW Charlotte Falls Mini Hydropower Project is one of 3 Chinese Government-financed hydropower projects that were being implemented in parallel. The other two are the 2MW Bankasoka Hydropower Plant in Port Loko District (see Record ID#53053) and the 0.64MW Makali Hydropower Plant in Tonkolili District (see Record ID#2258).