Sierra Leone’s clean energy future has received a boost with a $200 million waste-to-energy infrastructure project, expected to generate 30 megawatts of power while processing 1,000 tons of municipal solid waste daily.

Details of the project were given by officials of Infinitum Energy Group (IEG), along with their international partners, at a press conference in Freetown on Wednesday.

According to Dr. Yassin Kargbo, country director for IEG Waste, the company began operations in 2018 with a mission to provide sustainable, reliable electricity to Sierra Leone.

“This company came to produce electricity. But unlike others, we face serious challenges—dirty environments, limited infrastructure and roadblocks in execution. Still, we push forward,” he said.

He emphasized the project’s alignment with national and global climate goals. “Climate change is real. Even in Makeni, floods are rising to people’s necks. This is not theory—it’s our daily reality. That’s why this project matters,” Kargbo said.

IEG aims not only to power the country but also to empower its people.

“We want to create jobs, boost development and ease the burden on government,” Kargbo said. “If people are working, they stop blaming the system. International companies must be partners in solving national challenges.”

He added that the project has the full endorsement of President Julius Maada Bio, who first engaged with IEG leadership in 2022 during a meeting in New York.

Key ministries and officials, including Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, chairman of Renewable Energy In Sierra Leone, were tasked with ensuring the project's success, according to him.

Despite political support, Kargbo said the initiative has faced administrative and institutional pushback.

“We’ve submitted all the necessary documents, including the Power Purchase Agreement, but some quarters are putting up roadblocks,” he said.

“This project isn’t for us—it’s for the people. Sierra Leone has only about 60 megawatts of capacity. We need at least 10 times more to develop.”

Jonathan Rubin, stakeholder engagement and community development strategist at IEG, elaborated on the project’s scope and its potential impact on vulnerable communities.

“We believe climate change hits the most vulnerable communities first,” Rubin said. “This project is designed to directly address the overflow of garbage in Freetown and transform it into clean energy. We will create 6,000 jobs and uplift communities—including plastic pickers and market women—by integrating them into a formal waste economy.”

Rubin stressed the importance of local collaboration. “We want to work with government, civil society and the people,” he said. “Everyone has a role to play in building a cleaner, greener Sierra Leone.”

Kyle Newell, representing Impact Pathways, a sustainability consultancy partnering with IEG, shared insights from similar waste-to-energy projects around the world.

“Our goal is to help Sierra Leone build a functioning waste ecosystem that brings economic, environmental and public health benefits,” Newell said. “We’ve seen this model work in countries like Rwanda, Colombia, South Africa and Indonesia, not by copying a template, but by crafting local solutions.”

He emphasized that the success of such systems depends on blended financing and structured support for waste services.

“Less than 10% of waste globally has direct market value,” he said. “That’s why it’s essential to combine electricity revenues with support for waste collection and processing to ensure affordability and sustainability.”

Newell noted that Sierra Leone has a unique opportunity to lead in Africa by developing a model that reflects its specific context.

Kargbo appealed to government leaders, donors and development partners to back the project.

“We’ve walked this far, but we can’t go further alone,” he said. “This isn’t just an energy project—it’s a national opportunity. Let’s stop sidelining those with experience. Let’s work together—for jobs, for health, for the future.”

The Infinitum Energy Group initiative is positioned to be a turning point in Sierra Leone’s infrastructure landscape, offering more than just power. It offers a path to resilience, dignity and sustainable progress.