The World Bank Group Tuesday, June 25, 2024, announced the approval of a second disbursement of US$45 million for Liberia’s Renewable Energy Solar Power Intervention Project (RESPITE), as the total budget for the project stands at US$96 million.
This announcement signifies a major step forward in Liberia’s renewable energy efforts as the project will finance the first 20-megawatt solar PV project and the expansion of the Mount Coffee hydropower plant, increasing its capacity from 88 megawatts to 129 megawatts.
In a meeting with Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, the Practice Manager for West and Central Africa at the World Bank Group, Ashish Khanna extolled President Boakai’s visionary leadership in prioritizing energy as a catalyst for economic growth and development.
“Liberia has made tremendous progress in the energy sector and remains the only country in sub-Saharan Africa that has reduced distribution losses by 30 percent with over half a million new connections to households,” Mr. Khanna noted.
He emphasized that Liberia’s recent achievements in the energy sector position the country favorably to attract private sector investments.
Vice President Koung expressed gratitude to the World Bank Group for its ongoing efforts to address Liberia’s energy crisis. “I want to thank the World Bank for all the support to Liberia, especially in helping us solve our electricity challenges. Your continuous support will help our country increase access to electricity.”
According to a dispatch, VP Koung called for immediate interventions to mitigate electricity outages as the dry season approaches and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to work with the World Bank Group to transform the lives of Liberians.
