By Goth Mohamed Goth
Hargeisa – The Ministry of Energy and Minerals of the Republic of Somaliland has officially signed the contract for the Berbera town electricity expansion project, awarding it to SINOSOAR.
The official signing ceremony took place at the Ministry’s headquarters and was attended by the Minister of Energy and Minerals, Eng. Ahmed Jama Barre; the Director General of the Ministry, Dr. Shucayb Osman Mahmoud; the Director General of the Energy Commission, Mr. Mohamed Mahmoud Abdi (Malow); representatives from the Berbera electricity company; the team from the Somaliland Electricity Sector Recovery Project (SESRP); and the contractor. The contract signing formalizes the expansion project, for which the President of the Republic of Somaliland, Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Cirro), had previously laid the foundation stone.
The Berbera electricity expansion project comprises a 12MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant, a 36MWh battery energy storage system (BESS), and a 13.5-kilometer transmission line.
Financed by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, the project is designed to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity to the residents of Berbera using clean energy sources. It is expected to drive significant socio-economic transformation in the city.
During the ceremony, the Minister and the Director General urged the contractor to uphold high-quality standards and complete the project within the agreed timeframe. Their objective is to ensure that Berbera’s community gains access to cost-effective, dependable, and safe electricity. Such an outcome is anticipated to stimulate both local and international investment, as electricity is a foundational necessity and a critical driver of socio-economic development.
In response, the successful contractor, SINOSOAR, pledged to maintain rigorous quality standards and meet the project deadline. This commitment aligns with the project’s goal of providing the people of Berbera with affordable, reliable, safe, and environmentally sustainable electricity.
