Residents of Freetown East have been enduring persistent and disruptive power outages, a situation that has triggered a public apology from the Minister of Energy, Cyril Grant, who admitted the strain the electricity crisis is placing on affected communities.

Speaking during a live interview on Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) Radio, the Energy Minister acknowledged that the current electricity supply system is not adequately meeting demand in the eastern part of Freetown, where residents have been experiencing frequent blackouts.

He expressed regret over the ongoing inconvenience and frustration caused by the situation, particularly for households and businesses that rely heavily on stable power supply for daily activities and economic survival.

The Minister explained that the challenges are linked to limitations in generation and distribution capacity within the national grid, which have resulted in uneven electricity supply across the capital.

However, he provided reassurance that the situation is expected to improve in the coming weeks, noting that electricity supply is projected to stabilise by mid-June. He linked this anticipated improvement to expected recovery in water levels at the Bumbuna Dam, which plays a major role in national power generation.

Once the reservoir returns to optimal levels, he said, electricity distribution is expected to become more stable across the country, including Freetown East.

Despite this assurance, many residents remain concerned about the ongoing blackouts, which continue to disrupt daily life, business operations, and essential services in affected communities.

Authorities say efforts are ongoing to stabilise the power sector and prevent a recurrence of the current electricity shortages.