BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa − The Liberian government and the European Union delegation in Liberia have broken ground for a US$42 million project to expand electricity access to Grand Bassa, Sinoe, and Grand Kru.
The program is part of the Global Gateway, a new European strategy to boost smart, clean, and secure links in the digital, energy, and transport sectors worldwide. The ceremony occurred on Friday, May 3, at the CLSG substation in Nekreen.
Samuel Bocay Nagbe, executive director of the Rural Renewable Energy Agency, said the government decided to light up the three counties to stimulate development and improve the living conditions of the rural population by increasing access to reliable and affordable renewable energy.
He expected 17,064 new homes, 1,442 businesses, and numerous public institutions to have access to electricity due to the project. Additionally, 700 streetlights would be installed, 500 of which would be in Buchanan, and the remaining 200 would go to Greenville.
He highlighted that the program, which is expected to be completed in 36 months (May 2024-May 2027), will also attempt to encourage private sector investment in developing mini electricity grids.
CLSG sub-station in Nekreen, Buchanan. Photo by Alexander Musa, Jr.
The RREA executive director also pointed out the program’s employment opportunities, including at least 300 full-time construction jobs, with 55 in Buchanan, 210 in Greenville, and 35 in Barclayville. An additional 124 permanent operations and maintenance jobs will be created, 64 in Buchanan, 49 in Greenville, and 11 in Barclayville.
Although Liberia remains one of the countries with the most limited access to electricity, Ambassador Nona Deprez, the head of the E.U. delegation to Liberia, acknowledged the country’s potential for electricity generation, given its abundant renewable energy sources.
“For this reason, the E.U. partnered with Liberia in the energy sector to light Monrovia and the southeast and other parts of Liberia,” Deprez said.
She emphasized the E.U.’s commitment to working with the private sector to manage the grid and sustain the investment through a revolving fund for repair, maintenance, and expansion of services as part of its commitment to providing electricity to at least 35 percent of the population outside Monrovia by the end of 2030.
Deprez called on the implementing partners to be gender sensitive by recruiting more qualified women while implementing the US$42 million grant.
President pro tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, who represented the government, thanked the E.U. and its partners and emphasized Liberia’s preparedness to collaborate with development partners.
She also called on local partners to empower local businesses in the counties with trained technicians in electrification and encouraged residents to take ownership of the project.
Featured photo by Alexander Musa, Jr.
