By Hassan Osman Kargbo
The third edition of the Climate Resilience and Energy Transition Dialogue (CRET 2025) brought together national and international energy stakeholders on Monday, October 20, 2025, at the Bintumani International Conference Centre in Freetown. The high-level dialogue focused on advancing Sierra Leone’s energy transition, climate resilience, and sustainable development goals.
President Julius Maada Bio, who served as the keynote speaker, reaffirmed his government’s commitment to delivering progress in the energy sector. He assured citizens that Sierra Leone is on a strong footing to achieve energy sufficiency and build resilience in the face of global climate challenges.
“Our country is in good footing to deliver, and we will surely bring positive news to the people of Sierra Leone,” President Bio said, emphasizing his administration’s determination to provide sustainable energy access across the country.
CRET 2025 convened policymakers, development partners, investors, civil society actors, and climate experts to explore innovative strategies for building a climate-resilient and energy-secure Sierra Leone. The dialogue serves as a key platform to align national priorities with global efforts aimed at fostering clean, sustainable, and inclusive energy systems.
President Bio, in his remarks, highlighted that the government’s approach goes beyond shaping policies, it is about empowering people to lead and benefit from the energy transition. “At CRET 2025, our focus goes beyond shaping policies, we are shaping people. We are building a Sierra Leone where innovation drives progress, where opportunities are shared equitably, and where every citizen is empowered to shape and transform their own future,” he stated.
He further pointed out that his administration has made remarkable progress in creating an enabling environment for investment through reforms, infrastructure expansion, and strong public-private partnerships. According to him, access to reliable and affordable energy remains central to his government’s development priorities, as it fuels industrial growth, supports livelihoods, and improves living standards.
Representing the Minister of Finance, Deputy Minister of Finance I, Madam Kadiatu Allieu, commended the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security for its dedication to promoting sustainable energy solutions. She praised the collaborative efforts between government and partners to achieve long-term energy stability and resilience.
In her remarks, Halima Hashi, Country Manager at the African Development Bank (AfDB), thanked the Government of Sierra Leone for taking decisive steps to strengthen the energy sector. She emphasized that access to energy should be universal and inclusive. “Energy must be for everyone in the country irrespective of colour or size,” she said, noting that no citizen should be left behind in the journey toward energy security.
Also addressing participants was Dr. Dymphna van der Lans, Chief Executive Officer of the Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) Global, who stressed the urgent need for clean cooking initiatives in Sierra Leone. She underscored that clean cooking is not just a modern convenience but a critical public health and environmental necessity in the 21st century. “We must all uphold clean cooking as a national priority. It is essential for the health of our people, the protection of our environment, and the empowerment of women and girls,” she stated.
CRET 2025 concluded with renewed commitments from government officials, partners, and investors to deepen collaboration, attract more funding for renewable energy projects, and accelerate Sierra Leone’s transition toward a greener, more sustainable future.
