The Minister of Energy has apologized on behalf of his ministry, the government and the National Power Authority (NPA) to the people of Sierra Leone for the massive blackout the country is presently experiencing.

Speaking to newsmen at the weekly Ministry of Information and Communications press briefing at the Youyi building in Freetown, Oluniyi Robbin-Coker said the current blackout in the country is as a result of mechanical and technical fault that one of the turbines at the Bumbuna hydro plant has developed and not a human sabotage as being misunderstood by the general public.

He explained that the Bumbuna hydro has two turbines and one of them has serious fracture and the second turbine has been put on low regulation in order to maintain its sustainability, adding that the turbines are not in good condition for operations which he said is the cause of the blackout in the country.

Coker further explained that the country is presently getting supply from the thermal-plant machines at Black Hall Road and other stations, which he said is very expensive because they buy fuel and NPA is going through huge losses.

"We will experience blackout from April to June when the thermal-plant machines will be on maintenance and the Bumbuna will not be able to supply the country," Coker said.