The $200 million waste-to-energy project by Infinitum Energy has come under scrutiny by the government, with Deputy Minister of Energy Edmond Noni stating that the proposed agreement is “exorbitant” and raises financial and technical concerns.

Speaking on Radio Democracy 98.1 FM’s flagship morning in Freetown on Wednesday, Noni clarified the government’s position on the Infinitum proposal, which aims to supply 30 megawatts of electricity using waste materials over a 25-year period.

“The government is aware of the Infinitum project and has conducted a technical assessment,” the minister said. “The company submitted their Power Purchase Agreement, financial model, and a feasibility study. But based on our calculations, 15 cents per kilowatt-hour for 25 years amounts to nearly $900 million. That’s not a financially sustainable arrangement for Sierra Leone.”

According to Noni, while the concept of generating power from waste is promising, Infinitum’s submission lacked key financial details and posed a significant risk of long-term debt.

He also noted that some of the proposals lacked clarity and full disclosure, especially in terms of financial structuring.

“Infinitum Energy uses waste, not fuel, to generate power. But the financials presented so far do not give us the confidence to move forward,” Noni stated.

The minister also responded to claims made by Infinitum’s country director, who alleged that President Julius Maada Bio had endorsed the project publicly and that the company has struggled to secure meetings with the energy ministry.

“That’s not accurate,” Noni said. “We’ve held multiple meetings with the company. But the lack of clarity in their proposal means we keep going in circles. As a minister, I have many pressing responsibilities, and I cannot keep revisiting the same issues without progress.”

Infinitum Energy, which has touted its waste-to-energy solution as a sustainable answer to Sierra Leone’s persistent electricity crisis, maintains that its project is viable and transformative.

The company’s country director insists that presidential support was communicated publicly and that their intention remains to bring clean energy to the national grid.

With the energy sector facing growing demand and public pressure amid power shortages, the government’s cautious stance reflects the balance it must strike between innovation and fiscal responsibility.

Noni reiterated the government's openness to renewable energy solutions but stressed that any such project must be economically sound, technically feasible, and transparent.

“We are not opposed to innovation,” he said. “But we must ensure that the people of Sierra Leone are not burdened with unsustainable debt in the name of development.”