LEEAP power project connects RIA, 39,792 new customers to LEC grid

The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) and its partners have committed to expanding electricity nationwide.

By Lincoln G. Peters

Friday, February 14, 2025/Liberia Electricity Corporation, with funding from the European Union, African Development Bank Group, Global Gateway, and Global Environmental Facility (GEF) has officially commissioned the Liberia Energy Efficiency and Access Project (LEAP). This project connects the Roberts International Airport and 339,792 new customers to the substation grid in the area.

The project funding source shows that the government of Liberia provides 3% of the resources, ADF 30%, EU-AITF 26%, NTF 22%, and TSF 13% of the resources for implementing the project or completing the RIA substation.

The commissioning ceremony, which was held in Unification City, Smell No Taste Community, on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, was graced by Vice President Jeremiah Koung, Mr. Thomas Z. Gonkerwon, Interim Managing Director LEC, Cllr. Emmanuel A. Tulay, Sr. Chairman, Board of Director LEC, European Union Ambassador to Liberia Nona Deprez, and other international partners.

The commissioning of the project marks a milestone in expanding electricity access, improving energy efficiency, and strengthening both human and institutional capacity within Liberia’s energy sector.

However, the project’s achievement underscores the Liberian government and partners’ commitment to driving sustainable energy solutions and expanding electricity access for the people of Liberia.

The project has connected 39,792 new customers, including 50 health facilities, sixty-five academic institutions, forty-three government or public facilities, and 50 small businesses.

Furthermore, the project also constructed 45km (66kv) double circuit transmission lines from the Paynesville substation to the RIA substation and built a new substation at the Schieffelin (66/22kv) and RIA 66/33kv.  Similarly, the project expanded 980km of distribution network across the Paynesville RIA Owens Grove corridor and the Pleebo, Fish Ton corridor.

For the economic and social impact, the project created over 6.000 jobs with approximately 225 female participants, reduced crime rates through improved streetlights and electricity in key communities, and strengthened community bonds, enabling social gathering, enhanced communication, and local business growth.

Capacity Building & Institutional Strengthening: The project trained over 110 staff from LEC, the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA), and the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC) and provided essential tools and equipment to improve operational efficiency.

Delivering a remark during the commissioning program, European Union Ambassador to Liberia Nona Deprez highlighted the significant progress made by the EU in expanding the Liberia electricity network while emphasizing the EU contribution of Euro 107m to the sector.

According to her, the substantial investment makes the EU the main donor in terms of grants. It will support Liberia’s fight against climate change, reduce electricity costs, and reorient investment in other productive areas describing the project is a good example as it was funded through the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund, which was created in 2007, with funding from the European Commission, EIB and its MS which has supported project in the area of energy, transport, water, and communications, contributing to fostering sustainable economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa.

‘’ I am honored to be here today at the commissioning ceremony of the Liberia Energy Efficiency and Access project, witnessing this last milestone of connecting the RIA to the grid and knowing how important this is for Liberia’s fight against greenhouse gas emission and climate change. While the backup generators will remain essential to ensure that critical airport systems continue to operate in the event of a power outage, we hope that RIA will reduce its electricity costs, helping reorient investments in other important areas, such as safety’’ she concluded.

For his part, Cllr. Emmanuel A. Tulay, Chairman of the LEC Board, expressed appreciation to international partners for their support. He said they have been engaging with the government and the project to ensure access to electricity for the people, adding that they continue to help the Liberian government deliver sustainable electricity.

Also, speaking, Mr. Thomas Z. Gonkerwon extolled the donors for their support while promising Liberians to provide sustainable electricity. He also vowed to intensify the fight against power theft to ensure that Liberians get the necessary electricity supply to enhance sustainable economic growth.- Edited by Othello B. Garblah.