The Government of Liberia, in collaboration with the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), the European Union (EU), and other development partners, recently convened the first steering committee meeting for the “Rural Electrification Prioritizing South-East Liberia” project, also known as LIGHT UP SOUTH-EAST (LUSE). This ambitious initiative, funded by the EU’s Global Gateway program, aims to bring solar electricity to three of Liberia’s fifteen counties: Grand Bassa (Buchanan), Sinoe (Greenville), and Maryland (Barclayville). The project represents a significant step towards achieving sustainable electricity access for these underserved regions and aligns with the Liberian government’s broader development agenda.
The inaugural steering committee meeting, held at the Ministry of Finance & Development Planning (MFDP), brought together key stakeholders, including government officials and development partners, to discuss and coordinate the project’s implementation phases. Acting Finance and Development Planning Minister Anthony Myers emphasized the project’s alignment with the government’s Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD), which aims to achieve inclusive development across the nation. He underscored the importance of electricity as a catalyst for economic growth and sectoral development, particularly in the southeast, a region historically marginalized due to geographical isolation.
Minister Myers highlighted the multifaceted benefits of the LUSE project, including its contribution to Liberia’s international environmental and carbon targets through the utilization of solar energy. He noted the potential for the project to stimulate trade, foster local business development, attract investment, enhance security, and mitigate crime. The project directly addresses the lack of infrastructure in the southeastern region, contributing to the government’s commitment to balanced development across the country. He further stressed the critical role electricity plays in achieving the PAPD’s objectives, particularly in sectors like tourism, which hold significant potential in the southeast.
The Acting Managing Director of the Liberia Electricity Corporation, Thomas Zailee Gonkerwon, expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project and commended the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders. He urged continued commitment to the rural electrification initiative, ensuring its successful implementation. EU Ambassador to Liberia, Nona Deprez, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the project’s significance in addressing the electricity deficit and promoting environmentally sustainable solutions through solar energy.
Ambassador Deprez highlighted the substantial financial commitment of 42 million Euros from the EU for the LUSE project and reaffirmed the shared development interests between Liberia and the EU, particularly in the energy sector. She noted the recent completion of another EU-funded project worth 52 million Euros focused on electricity transmission and distribution in greater Monrovia, benefiting 42,000 households. This demonstrates the EU’s ongoing commitment to supporting Liberia’s energy sector development and improving access to electricity for its citizens.
Samuel Nagbe, Executive Director of the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA), expressed gratitude to the MFDP, the EU, and other partners for their contributions to the project. He emphasized the importance of ensuring electricity access for the targeted counties and highlighted a key provision in the financing agreement that exempts disbursed funds from covering operational costs. This provision underscores the Liberian government’s commitment to covering these costs and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project. The LUSE project is poised to significantly improve the lives of citizens in southeastern Liberia, promoting economic development and reducing regional disparities.
