RREA Projects US$935M For Rural Electrification By 2030 —As Donors Contribute US$200M

By Bill W. Cooper

The Deputy Executive Director of the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA), Stephen V. Potter, has disclosed that in order for the agency to achieve 35% rural electrification by 2030, it will require at least US$935 million.
Mr. Potter said that the Growing the Grid (GTG) and Decentralized Grid (DG) Programs which represent around 90% of the total investment, with significant investment both in generation and distribution, the GTG Program by itself represents more than 50% of the Rural Energy strategy and Master Plan Investment.
According to the RREA Deputy, the Ganta to Gbarnga Grid Extension is implanted in the partnership with the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) and that the US$4 million USAID and UNIDO grant funded project aims to extend the existing 33 kV from Cote d’Ivoire to the Ganta Transmission Grid from Nimba County to Suakoko, Bong County covering a distance of 77.28km.
The project is also comprised of 10 km LV and 25 km of 19 kV and it is expected to be completed by May 2020 with an initial connection of 2,700 customers.
Mr. Potter made the assertion at last Thursday’s regular media briefing at the Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism (MICAI) in Monrovia.
Deputy Director Potter indicated that the RREA, with support from the World Bank, is implementing a US$27 million project entitled, Liberia Renewable Energy Access Project (LIRENAP) and noted that the project aims to construct a hybrid mini-grid system (2.5 MW hydropower plant, 1.8MW back-up diesel power plant, 90 km-33kV transmission lines and 25 km 33/0.4kV distribution network) in Lofa County.
He added that the hybrid mini-grid system that is expected to be completed in 2023 would ensure access to affordable, reliable, year-round electricity services to households, business and public institutions for about 10,000 connections (50,000 beneficiaries), in Voinjama, Foya, Kolahun, Massambolahun, Bolahun and other surrounding arrears.
“The RREA, with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB), is also implementing a US$33.74 million project called Renewable Energy for Electrification in Liberia (REEL), as this project also seeks to develop a 9.34 MW run-of-river hydropower plant on the Gbedin Fall in Nimba County and the proposed hydropower plant will inject 9.34 MW of electricity into the existing 33 kV cross-border transmission line between Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire,” Mr. Potter stated.
He boasted that with support from the EU, the RREA in collaboration with the National Authorizing Office (NAO), the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) has conducted full feasibility study of a run-of-river Sinoe Rapids Small Hydropower Plant near Greenville City in Sinoe County, stressing, “When constructed, the two MW hydropower plants will provide electricity to approximately 3,000 households (17,000 beneficiaries) including the port of Greenville and many large and small businesses in Greenville City and its environs; as the project will cover generation, transmission and distribution.”
“Under the EU proposed Euros 42 million grant funding, the RREA is also expected to construct the distribution of facility that will cover Buchanan City and its environs and with the request of the Minister of the MFDP, Samuel Tweah, the RREA, in February 2018, tendered a proposal under the sixth cycle of the International Renewable Energy Agency/Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (IRENA/ADFD) Project facility call for proposal, for an US$8 million concession loan for the construction of a 2.13 MW hydropower plant in River Gee County, as the RREA ranked first of three successful candidates out of 121 proposals received under the sixth cycle,” the RREA Deputy averred.
Meanwhile, Mr. Potter has also revealed that about US$200 million are already been committed, mostly from their donors and development partners ranging from the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the EU, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Government of Sweden and other international non-governmental organizations among others.
The RREA was initiated as a prototype within the then Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy, following the formation of the National Energy Policy (NEP) in 2018.