By Lewis S Teh
The Project Officer at the European Union (EU) Mr. Gerald M. Fuller, says the EU has observed that road connectivity and electricity are the backbones of the Government of Liberia’s infrastructure so, it strongly supports the realization of these priorities in both sectors.
“Let me commend the Government of Liberia for having placed particular emphasis on the Pro-poor Agenda for development by focusing on infrastructure in the country; the two sectors – road and electricity are the backbone of these infrastructures”, Mr. Fuller notes.
He made the observation recently in Monrovia at the launch of policy regulations for licensing of electrical professionals and contractors, including electrical wiring and wiring code by Liberia the Electricity Regulatory Commission, LERC.
Speaking on behalf of EU Ambassador to Liberia, Lauren Delahouse, Mr. Fuller described the launch of the three new regulations as a milestone for the energy sector of Liberia.
He says it will have a harmonized electricity technocratic setting with regulated wiring system via the wiring code, considering that Liberia has to be regionally integrated into its neighboring countries’ electrical coding system.
“I wish to emphasize and bring to your attention the benefits this represents in promoting social and human development for women, who will have access to a better quality of life, for children who can and will benefit from electricity to complete their education and to all for the increase in security that electricity brings along”, he adds.
According to the EU Project Officer, with 63 million US dollars, (52 million euros), the EU has financed the “Monrovia Consolidation of Electricity” to support the Government of Liberia’s efforts to provide sustainable and stable electricity to all citizens.
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He narrates that one of the contracts under the program secured a total envelope of 2.8 million euros for 3 years long technical assistance in capacity building and institutional support to the LERC and the ministry of mines and energy.
Fuller continues that the scope of the action was to have in place a functioning electricity regulatory framework that allows tendering and awarding of electricity generation, transmission, and distribution of licenses and related contracts in major settlements, including rural areas.
The EU strongly believes that expansion of the electricity sector must be affordable and for this to become true, a solid private sector is necessary. Mr. Fuller stresses that since a stable and well-regulated environment in the energy sector is a precondition to attracting the private sector, the technical assistance to support the LERC and the ministry of mines and energy is of paramount importance for the whole energy sector of Liberia.
The LERC is the lead entity for facilitating the transformation and development of the electricity sector to attract investment, improve availability and adequacy as well as quicken the pace of access to electricity in a liberalized sector.
