14 January 2011: Kandeh K. Yumkella, Director-General of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), visited the Singimi Falls in Palima, Sierra Leone, to inspect the proposed site of a 10MW hydropower dam that will serve locals, a university and private companies.

Highlighting UNIDO’s contribution to the project, Yumkella noted that, “The Moyamba hydropower project is among President Koroma’s top three priority projects and part of Sierra Leone’s Agenda for Change, and UNIDO will continue to provide the technical expertise required to assist the Government in implementing the projects.”

Yumkella also held a meeting with experts from India, who made a presentation on viable business models for village-based biogasifiers and solar charging stations. One of the presenters highlighted the possibility of generating abundant electricity from the solid biomass and rice husk that he and his colleagues had seen in the Sierra Leonean rural villages they had visited. He estimated that US$1.5 million will be sufficient investment to generate up to 1MW from India’s biogasification technology. Yumkella welcomed the future partnership between the Government of India and UNIDO to demonstrate successful models of green energy systems in rural Sierra Leone, noting that, “New technology will help generate energy for productive use, and this will especially benefit women.” [UNIDO Press Release]