Professor Kelleh Gbawuru Mansaray, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Coordinator of the TEA-LP programme, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone has led Sierra Leone's participation in the Circular Economy Powered Renewable Energy Centre (CEPREC) kick-off meeting in the UK. The event, held from March 24-28, 2025, brought together experts from the UK and six African nations—Sierra Leone, South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, and Nigeria—to help power Africa's transition to sustainable energy through research and development.

CEPREC, a UK-funded multi-million-dollar initiative, brings together leading institutions such as De Montfort University, the University of Warwick, and Chatham House (UK), alongside African universities and industry partners. Its objective is to integrate circular economy principles into renewable microgrid technologies, fostering innovative energy solutions for the continent. In the words of Professor Muyiwa Oyinlola, Professor of Innovation for Sustainable Development at De Montfort University, "CEPREC is set to transform the way we think about waste, - turning it into opportunity".

Discussions at the weeklong meeting focused on implementing circular microgrids, addressing energy storage challenges, and strengthening collaborations with governments and private sector stakeholders. The team, based in Warwick, also visited Chatham House for high-level talks with African High Commissioners on developing and strengthening policy frameworks for sustainable energy.

Energy access remains a critical global development issue, particularly for many countries in the developing world.

Despite its vast renewable energy potential- including solar, hydro, and biomass, Sierra Leone continues to face significant energy sector challenges, especially in rural areas.

Recognizing this, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has prioritized energy sector reforms as an active practical policy goal. He appointed Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, a former Director-General of UNIDO, as Chair of the Energy Governance Coordination Group (EGCG) and launched the Energy Transition and Green Growth plan, aimed at achieving 100% electrification by 2040. The country has also signed a $480 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant to expand affordable energy access. Additionally, the national electricity system has been integrated into the West African Power Pool (WAPP), connecting Sierra Leone with three other countries in the subregion.

Professor Kelleh Gbawuru Mansaray emphasized CEPREC's role in training local energy professionals, fostering clean energy innovation, and creating policy frameworks to accelerate Sierra Leone's energy transition. "By integrating circular economy principles, we are paving the way for sustainable and inclusive energy access that supports economic transformation and community resilience," he underlined.

With growing investments in renewable energy, capacity-building initiatives, and impactful international collaborations, Sierra Leone is strategically positioning itself at the forefront of Africa's clean energy revolution.

Professor Mansaray, who is leading Sierra Leone's engagement at CEPREC, is a distinguished scholar with a PhD in Energy Engineering, specialising in Bioenergy systems. He has an impressive record with a solid string of sound scholarly publications and coveted international scientific awards to his name. As part of this initiative, he will also supervise at least three Sierra Leonean PhD students in research fields related to Circular Economy Microgrid Technologies.

Sierra Leone's participation in this collaborative multi-sectoral research, capacity-building, and policy-driven initiative is a testament to its commitment to leveraging circular economy principles to support Africa's energy transition.

President Bio's vision of pursuing durable solutions to enduring national challenges is reflected in Sierra Leone's active role in the development and deployment of clean energy technologies, an initiative that aims to set a new benchmark for sustainable energy solutions and expand affordable energy access across Africa, including in Sierra Leone.