Officers of the Arab Electrical energy Regulators Discussion board (AERF) and African Discussion board for Utility Regulators (AFUR) in Cairo Egypt. PHOTO/UGC.
By FRANLIN N. KWENAH
in Monrovia, Liberia
As international efforts to fight local weather change intensify, international locations like Liberia stand on the crossroads of financial alternative and environmental sustainability.
Liberia’s wealth of pure sources positions it uniquely to contribute to the worldwide combat in opposition to local weather change whereas fostering nationwide development. Regardless of the nation’s ample renewable vitality potential, the vitality sector stays largely underdeveloped.
Nevertheless, Liberia has the chance to harness its untapped sources, comparable to hydropower and photo voltaic vitality, to deal with each vitality entry and local weather objectives.
Liberia’s Vitality Problem and Alternative
Liberia is wealthy in pure sources, but entry to electrical energy stays a big problem. With solely about 20% of the inhabitants related to the nationwide grid, and most of that within the capital, Monrovia, the overwhelming majority of Liberians lack dependable entry to electrical energy.
This vitality hole hinders financial growth and exacerbates the challenges of local weather change mitigation. Nevertheless, Liberia’s ample renewable vitality sources, notably hydropower and photo voltaic, supply a promising path ahead.
The federal government, underneath President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has lately taken essential steps to enhance vitality entry and foster financial development. A key initiative on this regard is Government Order No. 138, which gives tax exemptions for the Liberia Electrical energy Company (LEC) to facilitate the enlargement of electrical energy entry throughout the nation.
This order removes customs duties and the Items and Providers Tax (GST) on important gear for vitality era, transmission, and distribution, in addition to on gas prices, together with heavy gas oil (HFO), to stabilize electrical energy costs. By lowering prices, the LEC can develop its buyer base, modernize its transmission methods, and supply extra inexpensive electrical energy to Liberians.
“This can be a vital step towards driving financial resilience and enhancing public service supply in Liberia,” President Boakai mentioned in a current assertion. He emphasised that the federal government’s focus is on supporting key sectors, together with vitality, to enhance the standard of life for all residents.
Monetary and Infrastructure Challenges
Regardless of the constructive coverage steps, financing and infrastructure growth stay main challenges. The size of funding wanted to modernize Liberia’s vitality sector is substantial, and whereas Liberia has made progress in securing worldwide local weather financing, extra funding is required.
Worldwide organizations such because the Inexperienced Local weather Fund and the World Financial institution have been instrumental in offering funding, however the nation’s vitality transition would require sustained funding in renewable vitality infrastructure, notably in rural areas the place entry to electrical energy stays restricted.
On the COP29 summit, the Liberian authorities emphasised the necessity for elevated financing to assist local weather mitigation and adaptation. Liberia’s vulnerability to local weather change—manifested by way of rising sea ranges, deforestation, and unpredictable climate patterns—makes the event of unpolluted and inexpensive vitality options all of the extra pressing.
The Promise of Renewable Vitality
Liberia’s renewable vitality potential is huge and largely untapped. The nation’s rivers, together with the St. Paul, Cavalla, and Lofa rivers, current huge potential for hydropower era.
With an estimated hydropower capability of over 1,000 MW, lower than 20% of this potential is presently in use. Increasing hydropower may considerably enhance the nation’s electrical energy provide and assist meet each home and regional vitality calls for.
Photo voltaic vitality is one other key useful resource. Liberia receives ample daylight year-round, making it ideally suited for decentralized solar energy options, particularly in rural areas that lack entry to the nationwide grid.
In recent times, personal sector investments and worldwide partnerships have begun to discover photo voltaic vitality options, with small-scale photo voltaic tasks serving to to deliver energy to off-grid communities.
One instance is a 25 kW photovoltaic (PV) photo voltaic plant in Totota, Bong County, operated by the Liberia Engineering and Geo Know-how Firm. The plant provides electrical energy to over 40 households and companies, and it’s backed up by a diesel generator to make sure dependable energy within the occasion of inadequate daylight.
The mission, commissioned by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2016, is an instance of how photo voltaic vitality can present dependable, off-grid energy to underserved communities.
Liberia’s International Position in Local weather Mitigation
Liberia’s transition to renewable vitality just isn’t solely about home advantages but additionally about contributing to international local weather motion. As a signatory to the Paris Settlement, Liberia has dedicated to lowering greenhouse gasoline emissions and growing its local weather resilience.
The nation’s Nationally Decided Contributions (NDCs) embrace a dedication to scale back dependence on fossil fuels and speed up the adoption of renewable vitality sources.
Liberia’s renewable vitality transition is supported by a variety of worldwide companions. In Cairo, Egypt, the Liberia Electrical energy Regulatory Fee (LERC) has been actively taking part within the Arab Electrical energy Regulators Discussion board (AERF) and the African Discussion board for Utility Regulators (AFUR), the place key discussions on vitality laws, cross-border vitality commerce, and infrastructure growth are happening.
These boards foster regional collaboration and partnerships which can be vital for advancing vitality safety and effectivity.
Worldwide growth organizations such because the United Nations Improvement Programme (UNDP), the European Union, and america Company for Worldwide Improvement (USAID) are offering technical help, coverage recommendation, and funding to assist Liberia’s vitality transition.
Moreover, the World Financial institution has performed a key function in financing large-scale vitality infrastructure tasks, together with the rehabilitation of the Mount Espresso Hydroelectric Plant, which has been pivotal in increasing Liberia’s energy provide.
The African Improvement Financial institution (AfDB) has additionally been a big accomplice within the growth of renewable vitality in Liberia. By way of the New Deal on Vitality for Africa initiative, the AfDB has labored with Liberia to create a roadmap for scaling up vitality entry by way of renewable sources comparable to photo voltaic and wind vitality.
A Name for Motion
As Liberia strikes ahead with its vitality transition, a number of key actions are important for guaranteeing that the nation’s vitality future is clear, secure, and inexpensive. First, the federal government should proceed to strengthen its coverage and regulatory frameworks to advertise renewable vitality growth and create an setting that pulls personal funding.
Second, increasing and modernizing the electrical energy grid is essential to attach extra Liberians to the nationwide grid, notably in rural areas, whereas supporting off-grid options.
Moreover, investing within the expertise and capability of the subsequent era of vitality professionals can be vital for managing and sustaining renewable vitality methods. Coaching technicians, engineers, and different vitality consultants will make sure that Liberia has the human sources wanted to maintain its vitality transition.
Lastly, Liberia should proceed constructing sturdy partnerships with worldwide growth companions to mobilize financing and technical experience for large-scale renewable vitality tasks. With the appropriate insurance policies, investments, and partnerships, Liberia can unlock its renewable vitality potential, scale back its carbon footprint, and supply hundreds of thousands of individuals with entry to scrub, inexpensive vitality.
In doing so, the nation won’t solely meet its home vitality wants but additionally make a significant contribution to international local weather mitigation efforts, guaranteeing a sustainable future for its individuals and the planet.
Liberia stands at a vital juncture in its vitality transition, with a chance to harness its ample renewable sources to drive financial growth, enhance vitality entry, and contribute to international local weather objectives.
By persevering with to put money into renewable vitality infrastructure, strengthening coverage frameworks, and fostering worldwide partnerships, Liberia can remodel its vitality sector, mitigate local weather change, and supply a brighter, extra sustainable future for its residents.
