Difference between revisions of "Liberia Energy Situation"

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== Energy Situation<br/> ==
 
  
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Energy consumption in Liberia is dominated by biomass with a share of more than 80% of the used primary energy sources. Most important is woody biomass being used for domestic cooking and heating. In 2004, it was estimated that over 95% of the population depends on firewood and charcoal for cooking and heating needs and palm oil for lighting. The most recent Census (2008 data, published in 2009) shows that 70% of the urban population use charcoal for cooking and 5% of the rural population; 91% of the rural population use firewood for cooking and 21% of the urban population. In Monrovia, the percentage of households using charcoal is even higher, 85%.<br/>Modern energy services based on electricity and petroleum products are predominantly used for economic production and transportation. In the household sector, the use of modern energy services consists mainly of kerosene, electricity, and liquefied petroleum gas for lighting, cooking, and entertainment. These are used by higher income households in urban areas. Historically electricity was mainly provided in the capital of Monrovia; around 35,000 customers—almost 13 percent of the population—were served by 1989. Total installed electricity capacity was 191 MW. The generation mix was composed of hydropower from the plant at Mt. Coffee—with a supply capacity of 63 MW during the wet season and 5 MW during the dry season (six months)—and 31 percent HFO and 21 percent diesel. The utility LEC also handled the electricity supply of rural areas outside Monrovia through 10 small isolated power systems with a total installed capacity of 13 MW.<br/>According to the data of the government, about 10% of urban residents and less than 2% of rural residents have currently electricity access largely from self-generation with gasoline or diesel generators using expensive imported fuel. The access rate to public electricity is roughly&nbsp;1%. In March 2012 LEC served about 5,600 connections in Monrovia (around 2,500 residents from an estimated number of 210,000 households), In August 2012 already 11,000 customers are served by LEC. A baseline study carried out by Norad estimates that close to 90,000 households and businesses in Monrovia may be served by small gasoline and diesel generators. It is planned to increase the number of connections to the grid to 45,000. Each connection will cost around 1000 USD.
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{{CES Country|CES Country Name=Liberia
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|CES Country Capital=Monrovia
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|CES Country Region Africa = Sub-Saharan Africa
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|CES Country Coordinates=6.3167° N, 10.8000° W
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}}
  
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= Introduction<br/> =
  
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Liberia has currently a population of roughly 4.6 million people. It is estimated that 38% of the population has an income of less than US$1.90 a day. Poverty is considerably higher in rural areas than in urban areas.<br/>
  
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== Energy Supply ==
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=== Electricity ===
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Energy consumption in Liberia is dominated by biomass with a share of more than 80% of the used primary energy sources. Most important is woody biomass being used for domestic cooking and heating. In 2004, it was estimated that over 95% of the population depends on firewood and charcoal for cooking and heating needs and palm oil for lighting. The most recent Census (2008 data, published in 2009) shows that 70% of the urban population use charcoal for cooking and 5% of the rural population; 91% of the rural population use firewood for cooking and 21% of the urban population. In Monrovia, the percentage of households using charcoal is even higher, 85%. Around 2% of the population have access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking (World Bank, 2014)<br/>
  
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The installed generation capacity is 23 MW of Diesel power. All stations are in or near Monrovia (four High Speed Diesel (HSD) generating stations in the areas of Paynesville (2 x 0.3 MW), Congo Town (2 x 1.0 MW), Kru Town (5 x 1.0 MW) and Bushrod Island (15 x 1.0 MW) and a number of 22 kV feeders serving areas around and between the Generating Stations. A 66 kV subtransmission line tying all four stations together has been recently commissioned and all generation is now supplied from Bushrod Island from the USAID funded 10 MW HSD installation. With the exception of Gbamga, Bong County, there is no generation capacity outside of Monrovia beyond privately-owned generators and scattered donor-funded pilot projects. A number of Government agencies, community organizations and private sector establishments in rural locations in several counties have been able to receive diesel generators and solar power systems through USAID, the United Nations Development Programme, and some NGOs. Data on the energy supply outside Monrovia are scarce. The amount and location of households using solar PV systems in Liberia is not known. According to the RREA, there is no data on biogas or wind energy project identified in the country. Only one small wind turbine has been noticed in Monrovia. Currently, there are no data on the number of people using stand alone diesel plants in the country. With regard to electricity access by household, The '''Liberia Electricity Company (LEC)''' has some scattered data on the capitals of the counties. Due largely to expensive diesel production, Liberia has one of the highest public tariffs in the world at a range of $0.40/kWh to $0.50/kWh. The tariff is calculated on a quarterly basis taking into account the price of equipment, service schedule, cost of overhauls, 20 percent of technical and nontechnical losses, US$0.02/kWh for distribution operation and maintenance costs, the LEC’s administrative costs, and a 93 percent efficiency in collections. The generation cost is estimated at US$0.32/kWh. The cost of self-generation is estimated at not less than US $0.75/kWh. The GOL subsidizes the balance of LEC’s costs and is expected to continue doing so during the transition to cheaper medium-term generation options now under active investigation and planning.<br/>Liberia has considerable potential for hydroelectric power. At the onset of civil war there were three operational hydroelectric power plants in Liberia: Harbel (Firestone), 4MW; Mount Coffee (LEC), 64MW; and Yandahun (a community micro hydro in Lofa County), 30KW. The Mount Coffee and Yandahun plants were destroyed during the war, but the Harbel plant is still operational. A number of feasibility studies were carried over the period 1976-1983. At least 14 large scale schemes were identified in over six main rivers. The Cavalla River has a single largest potential (225MW at Tiboto) but with more than half of this in Cote d’Ivoire, bilateral cooperation is required for its development. Similarly, the Mano River, with the potential of up to 180MW, has nearly a quarter of its basin in Sierra Leone2. However, since four of the six river basins are within Liberia’s borders, they could be developed. The major drawback is that all suffer from the problem of low-head flow, requiring huge investment in storage or reservoir to maintain firm capacity during the dry season. About 24 other sites have been identified for small hydroelectric schemes (up to 5 MW). In 1988, the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) sought investment capital to develop six mini hydro schemes with total installed capacity of about 20 MW, which was intended to supply three rural grids serving 14 major population centers in the northern half of Liberia.&nbsp;
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Modern energy services based on electricity and petroleum products are predominantly used for economic production and transportation. In the households, the use of modern energy services consists mainly of kerosene, electricity, and liquefied petroleum gas for lighting, cooking, and entertainment. These are used by higher income households in urban areas.<br/>
  
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=== Biomass ===
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Historically, electricity was mainly provided in the capital of Monrovia; around 35,000 customers—almost 13 percent of the population—were served by 1989. Total installed electricity capacity was 191 MW. The generation mix was composed of hydropower from the plant at Mt. Coffee—with a supply capacity of 63 MW during the wet season and 5 MW during the dry season (six months)—and 31 percent HFO and 21 percent diesel. The utility LEC also handled the electricity supply of rural areas outside Monrovia through 10 small isolated power systems with a total installed capacity of 13 MW.<br/>
  
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With some 60% of the land is covered with forests (5.7 million hectares, FRM 2004), there is no lack of trees in Liberia. There are 11 designated National Forests in the country (under limited protection), and two legally protected areas, Sapo National Park (approximately 149,000 ha) and East Nimba (about 15,000 ha). The FDA, Forest Development Authority has the exclusive rights to manage forest resources and focuses on large-scale concessions for timber extraction.<br/>The US national Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently studied biomass resources (other than forestry) in Liberia with a view how these resources could be used for energy purposes. NREL also indicated that the potential annual waste stream from logging operations - once they restart - could be very substantial, with an estimated 20 million m3 available (162,645 TJ/year), of which 10.9 million m3 at sawmills and the remainder at the logging site; most of that waste would be lost. The annual waste at the sawmills would be able to produce 100 million bags of charcoal, if all waste were convertible into charcoal; this is much more than is currently used in the country.<br/>NREL further estimates that of the total cropland in Liberia, 37% of the territory, only 6% is currently cultivated. The remaining cropland amounts to some 3 million hectares, which indicates that in addition to existing resources, there is a large potential for new crops including tree crops that could yield resources suitable for charcoal production.<br/>Large-scale rubber plantations (>800 ha) in Liberia today cover an area of approximately 58,000 hectares, some of which are in close vicinity of Monrovia; more land used to be under rubber trees as well: NREL estimates about 100,000 ha in total. Buchanan Renewables indicated that the area currently under rubber trees (all types of plantations combined) would be more like 250,000 ha, of which possibly one-third should be renewed soon. There are also smaller rubber plantations (5-800 ha), but these are generally perceived to have newer trees on their estates. In addition, there are numerous household plantations below 5 ha each.<br/>An active rubber plantation annually generates considerable amounts of wood residues from pruning and replanting activities, and charcoalers are known to use this for making charcoal. Trees need replacement after 25-30 years when these cease to be productive; approximately 81 dry tonnes of wood (trunks, branches) can be obtained per hectare of old trees (about 180 m3 of green wood).<br/>Oil palm trees are abundant in the coastal regions, on family plots, in the wild, and on abandoned plantations (30,000 ha). Most trees are at the end of their productive life. It is unknown if old trees are converted into charcoal.<br/>The average household farm is 1.2 ha, and 6% of the 353 thousand farms have coconut trees as a cash crop, 13% have oil palms, and 32% cacao trees. It is not know to what extent these trees contribute to charcoal production, but it is certain that it cannot be ignored.
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According to the data of the government and world bank, about 16.8% of urban residents and less than 2% of rural residents have currently electricity access largely from self-generation with gasoline or diesel generators using expensive imported fuel. The access rate to public electricity is roughly 1%. In March 2012 LEC served about 5,600 connections in Monrovia (around 2,500 residents from an estimated number of 210,000 households), In August 2012 already 11,000 customers are served by LEC. A baseline study carried out by Norad estimates that close to 90,000 households and businesses in Monrovia may be served by small gasoline and diesel generators.Imported electricity from Ivory Coast can be used by around 36000 persons in Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Maryland county.
  
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[[Liberia Energy Situation#toc|►Go to Top]]<br/>
  
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== Energy Consumption ==
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= Energy Potentials in Liberia<br/> =
  
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=== Electricity ===
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== Solar<br/> ==
  
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Estimates of the current level of electricity demand range from 11 to 25 MW. In June 2012 the peak demand was&nbsp;8.6 MW.&nbsp;While Liberia’s First State of the Environment Report forecasts that the demand for electricity will rise an average of 10.3% annually by 2010, and then decrease slightly to a 3.4% growth annually until 2020, a recent demand forecast by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) projects total demand for Monrovia and its environs of 19 MW by 2010, 34 MW by 2015, and 41 MW by 2020. For a variety of reasons, it appears that these forecasts are very conservative. <u></u>
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The humid, tropical climate in Liberia shows relatively constant temperatures throughout the year, around the average of 27° C (81° F ), hardly ever outside the range of 20° C (68° F ) to 36° C (97° F ). In Liberia, monthly solar radiation on horizontal surface ranges from about 4 kWh/m<sup>2</sup>/day during the rainy season in June, July, August to 6 kWh/m<sup>2</sup>/day during the height of dry season in February and March.<br/>
  
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<u>The actual demand for Liberia, including the various concessions, is likely to be in excess of 350 MW by 2020, for the following reasons:</u>
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This high and consistent potential for solar energy across the country adds to an average level of 1,712 kWh/m2/year, which could generate 1,400 to 1,500 kWh/kWp.<br/>
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== Biomass<br/> ==
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Some 43% of the land is covered with forests (41,790 square kilometers, World Bank 2015), thus there is no lack of trees in Liberia. There are 11 designated National Forests in the country (under limited protection), and two legally protected areas, Sapo National Park (approximately 149,000 ha) and East Nimba (about 15,000 ha). The FDA, Forest Development Authority has the exclusive rights to manage forest resources and focuses on large-scale concessions for timber extraction.<br/>
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<br/>The US national Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) studied biomass resources (other than forestry) in Liberia with a view how these resources could be used for energy purposes. NREL also indicated that the potential annual waste stream from logging operations - once they restart - could be very substantial, with an estimated 20 million m3 available (162,645 TJ/year), of which 10.9 million m3 at sawmills and the remainder at the logging site; most of that waste would be lost. The annual waste at the sawmills would be able to produce 100 million bags of charcoal, if all waste were convertible into charcoal; this is much more than is currently used in the country.<br/>
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NREL further estimates that of the total cropland in Liberia, 37% of the territory, only 6% is currently cultivated. The remaining cropland amounts to some 3 million hectares, which indicates that in addition to existing resources, there is a large potential for new crops including tree crops that could yield resources suitable for charcoal production.<br/>
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Large-scale rubber plantations (>800 ha) in Liberia today cover an area of approximately 58,000 hectares, some of which are in close vicinity of Monrovia; more land used to be under rubber trees as well: NREL estimates about 100,000 ha in total. Buchanan Renewables indicated that the area currently under rubber trees (all types of plantations combined) would be more like 250,000 ha, of which possibly one-third should be renewed soon. There are also smaller rubber plantations (5-800 ha), but these are generally perceived to have newer trees on their estates. In addition, there are numerous household plantations below 5 ha each.<br/>
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An active rubber plantation annually generates considerable amounts of wood residues from pruning and replanting activities, and charcoalers are known to use this for making charcoal. Trees need replacement after 25-30 years when these cease to be productive; approximately 81 dry tonnes of wood (trunks, branches) can be obtained per hectare of old trees (about 180 m3 of green wood).<br/>
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Oil palm trees are abundant in the coastal regions, on family plots, in the wild, and on abandoned plantations (30,000 ha). Most trees are at the end of their productive life. It is unknown if old trees are converted into charcoal.<br/>The average household farm is 1.2 ha, and 6% of the 353 thousand farms have coconut trees as a cash crop, 13% have oil palms, and 32% cacao trees. It is not known to what extent these trees contribute to charcoal production, but it is certain that it cannot be ignored.<br/>
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== Hydropower<br/> ==
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Liberia has a rainy season between April and November, various rivers and a long sea coast. Yearly rainfall is around 510 cm (200 in) on the coast, 200 cm (80 in) inland. Average relative humidity is about 82% in the coastal area during the rainy season, and 78% to 50% in the dry season.<br/>
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According to the Rural Energy Strategy and Masterplan, hydropower potential of 2 300 MW has been identified in Liberia. This potential is mainly on large rivers with high mean annual flow and low heads. Several locations have heads and flows above 50 m3/s, thus good for above 5 MW hydro schemes. However, the potential varies between rainy season and dry season.<br/>
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== Wind<br/> ==
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The potential for wind energy in Liberia is estimated to be relatively low. Although there might be some potential in coastal and mountainous regions, probably not enough for commercial exploitation; if at all, few sites might have the required minimum wind speed of 7m/s for wind power turbans plants. In the 2015 SE4All Action Agenda Report, Wind Generation in Liberia is projected to reach 0.47GWh in 2025. There is no assessment for wind energy or any recommendation to use wind energy in the Liberia Rural Energy Strategy and Masterplan. &nbsp;<br/>
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== Fossil Fuels<br/> ==
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All fossil fuels consumed in Liberia are imported. <span><span><span><span></span></span>Liberia has someffshore oil blocks</span></span><span><span>from the continental shelf to water depths of 2500-4500 meters. The geology of the Liberian basin is complex, and finding oil will be extremely difficult and expensive. Since 2011, m</span></span><span><span>ultinational oil companies have received licences for <span><span>exploration activities.</span></span>Anadarko Petroleum, African Petroleum, Chevron and ExxonMobil signed productions sharing contracts (PSC) with the Liberian government.&nbsp; Some of these companies subsequently began exploratory drilling;10 wells have been drilled so far.</span></span><br/>
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<span><span><span><span>African Petroleum</span></span> announced that it has discovered a total of 32 metres (105 feet) of net oil pay in two zones in Liberia. ExxonMobil finally began drilling on November 22, 2016. ExxonMobil found no oil and announced on December 19, 2016 that there is not enough oil in the well to get more than the money required to invest in extracting the oil from the well. However, there was enough evidence in the rock samples that were extracted from the seafloor to keep Exxon investigating other spots in the blockwith cheaper exploration tools rather than drilling which can cost as much as $1m a day.<span><span></span></span></span></span><br/>
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A number of oil companies have relinquished oil blocks, including Anadarko, Repsol and Tullow and recently African Petroleum. Market challenges and lack of interest in the Liberian oil basin due to the history of no discoveries of oil in commercial quantities in the basin.<br/>
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[[Liberia Energy Situation#toc|►Go to Top]]<br/>
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= Key Problems of the Energy Sector =
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In accordance to Power Africa, Liberia's energy sector's biggest issues and bottlenecks are as follows<ref name="Power Africa. (2018). Liberia Factsheet. Retrieved from: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/Liberia_-_November_2018_Country_Fact_Sheet.pdf">Power Africa. (2018). Liberia Factsheet. Retrieved from: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/Liberia_-_November_2018_Country_Fact_Sheet.pdf</ref>:
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*Weak and under developed enabling environment&nbsp;<br/>
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*Weak public utility that is not commercially viable, with high tariff and high commercial losses<br/>
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*Delayed expansion of transmission and distribution network to evacuate existing generation capacity&nbsp;<br/>
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*Nascent off-grid sector<br/>
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= Energy for cooking from Biomass<br/> =
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== Charcoal<br/> ==
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According to the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), a total of 255 tons of commercial charcoal was consumed in 1999. The National Charcoal Union of Liberia (NACUL) estimated that charcoal consumption in Liberia went up to 36,500 tons in 2005 and that 960,000 trees were cut around Monrovia every year. Production and consumption increased further and reached at least 100.000 tones. Other sources estimate that production/consumption has already reached between 235’000 and 285’000 tons for the year 2010 with a per capita production/consumption of 59 kg per year.<br/>
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Charcoal production and commercialization are entirely run by private operators and community-based organizations. There are no firm data on firewood consumption in Liberia, but findings from a survey conducted by CSET in 2004 indicate that scarcity of firewood could become a serious problem in some parts of Liberia, especially in Montserrado County.<br/>
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== Firewood<br/> ==
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Annual consumption of firewood is estimated to be 1 m³ per person and year. In some rural areas it can go up to 18m3 per household. Forecast for the country estimates an annual increase in demand of about 0.6 m³ per household. Other estimates foresee an annual increase in demand of about 0,43 m³ per person. On the other hand, most rural household use firewood that is collected from their immediate surroundings, consisting mainly of dead wood, branches, etc.,<br/>
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Although more households are using firewood than charcoal, the number of trees available is so large and the population density is relatively low so that it is reasonable to assume that the collection of firewood does not pose a problem in the short and medium run. The potential for serious environmental damage to wood resources as a result of charcoal production is more severe.<br/>
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== Improved cook stoves<br/> ==
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Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking is limited to around 2% of the population (World Bank, 2014). Stoves using gas or electricity can be bought and used mainly in Monrovia.<br/>
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Improved cook stoves for charcoals (“Red Fire Pots”) have been introduced by GIZ/EnDev and are locally produced and sold mainly in Monrovia. One retailer also imports improved cook stoves.<br/>
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= Electricity Situation<br/> =
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== Electricity Supply<br/> ==
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The installed generation capacity is 88MW hydroelectric facility Mount Coffee and 36MW Diesel facility on Bushrod Island, powering the main grid in Greater Monrovia operated by LEC. They had 22 MW of high speed diesel generation at the Bushrod Island facility, but most have been decommissioned, with only 5MW still operational, of which 2.5MW is available. Thus, in total LEC has 88MW of hydro, 38 HFO and 5MW LHO, bringing to a total 131 MW. A challenge is the insufficient transmission and distribution infrastructure, that is currently extended.<br/>
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In Nimba, Grand Gedeh and Maryland counties electricity is imported from Cote d’Ivoire reaching 36,000 persons by the end of July 2017 and is still rising. This cross-border project has been supported by the EU.<br/>
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A number of Government agencies, community organizations and private sector establishments in rural locations in several counties have been able to receive diesel generators, small hydropower or biomass plants and solar power systems through USAID, EU, the United Nations Development Programme, and some NGOs.<br/>
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The number of households using solar PV systems in Liberia is not known, but remains small. Only one small wind turbine has been noticed in Monrovia. Currently, there are no data on the number of people using stand alone diesel plants in the country. With regard to electricity access by household, The Liberia Electricity Company (LEC) has some scattered data on the capitals of the counties. Due largely to expensive diesel production, Liberia had one of the highest public tariffs in the world (in October 2012 $0.52/kWh). Since the hydropower plant is operational, the tariff has dropped ($0.39/kWh &nbsp;to $0.45/kWh in 2017) The cost of self-generation is estimated at not less than US $0.75/kWh.<br/>
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<br/>Liberia has considerable potential for hydroelectric power. At the onset of civil war there were three operational hydroelectric power plants in Liberia: Harbel (Firestone), 4MW; Mount Coffee (LEC), 64MW; and Yandahun (a community micro hydro in Lofa County), 30KW. The Mount Coffee and Yandahun plants were destroyed during the war, and have been reconstructed recently with higher capacities, .<br/>
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== Mini-grids powered by renewable energies<br/> ==
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The web portal [http://www.renewables-liberia.info www.renewables-liberia.info] compiles, coordinates and updates information and knowledge about renewable energy activities in Liberia. The continuously updated overview &nbsp;below is copied from [http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/project-sector-strenthening/156-mini-grids-in-liberia www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/project-sector-strenthening/156-mini-grids-in-liberia].<br/>
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[http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/project-plants/114-yandohun-hydropower-plant Yandohun hydropower mini-grid]<br/>
  
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*Liberia’s population, estimated at around 3.5 million from the provisional results of the 2008 census, has been growing at an average annual rate of 2.1%. Over 53 percent of the population is under 18 years of age. With a large pent-up demand for consumer goods and services as evidenced by previous levels of demand and rising incomes, demand for energy used in the production of these goods will increase as the population rises.
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*Since pre-conflict electricity capacity exceeded 400 MW, it seems likely that at some point the economy will begin to take off and very quickly reach previous levels of capacity. Industries which are large consumers of energy are only now looking at Liberia for opportunities to re-invest. Cement processing, rubber processing, breweries, and other factories and industrial operations have a huge demand for power. Prior to the civil conflict, the iron ore industry consumed about 210 MW of electricity. Although none of these former mines are currently in operation, the Government has prioritized their re-opening in the short to medium term, beginning with a recent concession agreement with ArcelorMittal for one of the former mines. The next two concessions for the Western Cluster iron ore deposits and the Old Bong Mines will be awarded soon. Furthermore, aggressive mineral exploration and resource appraisal programs for additional iron ore deposits are underway. The prospects for new hard rock mines for minerals such as gold, diamonds, uranium, and bauxite are very promising. The demand for energy for these operations in the medium and long term will be very significant, and without a strong Government energy policy, the requisite power to fuel these mining operations will not be developed.
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Lofa
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*The agriculture sector, although mostly artisanal at present, has a high demand for energy services. Agro-based concessions, such as rubber and other mechanized activities, produce electricity for their own consumption. Demand for energy in agriculture in the short, medium, and long term will be significant.
 
  
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Almost 74% of Liberia’s population resides in rural areas, while the remaining 26% live in and around the urban center of Monrovia. Rural households expend a significant amount of their meager incomes on inferior forms of energy such as candles, flashlights, and kerosene or oil lanterns for lighting. Higher fuel costs result from long transportation distances, fragmented delivery systems, and absence of economies of scale.
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Hydro
  
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World Bank
  
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RREA
  
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=== Biomass ===
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local cooperative
  
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According to the '''Central Bank of Liberia (CBL)''', a total of 255 tons of commercial charcoal was consumed in 1999. The National Charcoal Union of Liberia (NACUL) estimated that charcoal consumption in Liberia went up to 36,500 tons in 2005 and that 960,000 trees were cut around Monrovia every year. Recent studies estimate a charcoal consumption of 280 tons per day with a value of 43,000 USD or 102,200 tons per year. Charcoal production and commercialization are entirely run by private operators and community-based organizations.<br/>There are no firm data on firewood consumption in Liberia, but findings from a survey conducted by CSET in 2004 indicate that scarcity of firewood could become a serious problem in some parts of Liberia, especially in Montserrado County. Annual consumption of firewood in rural Montserrado County is estimated at 18m3 per household. Forecast for the country estimates an annual increase in demand of about 0.6 m³ per household. Other estimates foresee an annual increase in demand of about 0,43 m³ per person. On the other hand most rural household use firewood that is collected from their immediate surroundings, consisting mainly of dead wood, branches, etc., Although more households are using firewood than charcoal, the number of trees available is so large and the population density is relatively low so that it is reasonable to assume that the collection of firewood does not pose a problem in the short and medium run. The potential for serious environmental damage to wood resources as a result of charcoal production is more severe.
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operational
  
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== Energy Policy, Energy Strategy<br/> ==
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[http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/biomass-cooking/151-electricity-from-rubber-wood-chips-in-kwendin-nimba-rrea Electricity from rubber wood chips in Kwendin, Nimba (RREA)]
  
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The '''Government of Liberia (GOL)''' is considering energy access to the population, particularly to the previously neglected rural poor a cornerstone of its policy. The GoL published in 2007 a Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy and Action Plan. In the document the government outlines its policy to build and increase the application of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in Liberia by promoting investment, technology transfer, market development and local capacity building. In 2009 a '''National Energy Policy (NEP)''' was formulated which further developed the ideas of the Policy and Action Plan. NEP defines as principal objective of the national energy policy to ensure universal access to modern energy services in an affordable, sustainable and environmentally-friendly manner in order to foster the economic, political, and social development of Liberia. In addition, the GoL declares its intention to drive Liberia towards a carbon neutral economy by 2050. <u>Short term objectives of the policy are that by 2015:</u>
+
|
 +
Nimba
  
−
*40% of Liberian citizens living in rural and peri-urban areas and using traditional biomass for cooking shall have access to improved stoves and kerosene or efficient-gas cookers in order to reduce indoor pollution;
+
|
−
*30% of the urban and peri-urban population shall have access to reliable modern energy services enabling them to meet their basic needs (lighting, cooking, communication, and small production-related activities);
+
Biomass (wood)
−
*15% of the rural population and 25% of the schools, clinics, and community centers in rural areas shall have access to modern energy services to meet the same basic needs.
 
  
−
The GOL expects to achieve its access goals for 2015 while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 10%, improving energy efficiency by 20%, raising the share of renewable energy to 30% of electricity production and 10% of overall energy consumption, and increasing the level of biofuels in transport fuel to 5%. However, it seems that the GOL is increasingly becoming aware that they will not be able to achieve the goals till 2015. Recently they&nbsp;defined as&nbsp;new&nbsp;goals - this time for 2030- &nbsp;to reach electricity coverage of 70 per cent of the population in Monrovia, and 35 per cent nationwide by 2030.
+
|
 +
USAID
  
−
The NEP is considered a key contribution to the poverty reduction policy of the government as outlined in the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). <u>Poverty reduction is built on four pillars:</u>
+
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 +
NRICA
  
−
#consolidating peace and security
+
|
−
#revitalizing the economy
+
local cooperative
−
#strengthening governance and the rule of law
 
−
#rehabilitating infrastructure and delivering basic services.
 
  
 +
|
 +
60KW
  
 +
|
 +
2016
  
−
However, there are doubts whether the NEP targets can be met. For example, the management contract has a target to connect 33,000 customers by 2015 but the NEP target would imply that 119,007 connections would have to be made to reach that target. It is unclear how the difference will be made up for. No policy or measures beyond small pilot activities have been taken as of early 2010 that would indicate any measures are under way for improved cook stoves. This makes the cook stove target the most difficult to reach. Furthermore, the NEP states that these access targets are to be achieved while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent, improving energy efficiency by 20%, raising the share of renewable energy to 30% of electricity production and 10 percent of overall energy consumption, and increasing the level of biofuels in transport fuel to 5%. Beyond 2015 the long-term strategy is to make Liberia a carbon-neutral country within a specified target period. With respect to greenhouse gas emissions it is to be noted that in mid-2011 no greenhouse gas inventory of Liberia existed, and that therefore the proposed greenhouse gas emission reductions appeared difficult to verify.&nbsp;&nbsp;
+
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operational
  
 +
|-
 +
|
 +
[http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/biomass-cooking/68-palm-oil-generates-electricity-for-communities-in-lofa Palm oil generated electricity in Sorlumba, Lofa (USAID)]
  
 +
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 +
Lofa
  
−
== Institutional Set up<br/> ==
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Biomass (palm oil)
  
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<u>'''Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (MLME):'''</u>The key roles and responsibilities of the Ministry especially the '''Department of Energy (DoE)''', among others, are to facilitate the provision of energy to the domestic, commercial and industrial users by public enterprises and the private sector, through the development of an efficient regulatory, planning and implementation framework. It also reorientates the approach to rural electrification emphasising informed community choice, sustainability and containment of Government subsidy to achieve greater penetration of electrification into rural areas. Furthermore, to research and promote the development of local energy resources such as Hydro-power, biomass, solar, wave and wind energy; and promote energy conservation measures which improve both technical and economic efficiency in energy use.
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 +
USAID
  
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<br/><u>'''Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA):''' </u>The RREA is the agency dedicated to the commercial development and supply of modern energy services to rural Liberia with emphasis on utilizing available local renewable energy resources. The RREA’s mandate includes integrating energy into rural development planning; promotion of renewable energy technologies; facilitating delivery of energy products and services through '''rural energy service companies (RESCOs)''' and community initiatives; and facilitating the funding of rural energy projects including managing a '''Rural Energy Fund (REFUND)'''. The REFUND aims to provide for the coordinated and sustainable financing of projects and programs for the delivery of modern energy services for rural development. REFUND is intended to become the channel through which all domestic and international financial resources intended for rural energy delivery in Liberia shall be managed. REFUND’s main distinction from other funds is the focus on economic viability, including environmental and social benefits, regardless of financial viability. Prioritization of projects on the basis of economic viability will ensure that the income-generation programs supported by initial investments will be able to contribute financially to subsequent projects. However, also demographic and geographic criteria will be considered in order to ensure growth with equity. Where projects are of the same order of economic viability, preference shall be given to those serving more people. Where the projects serve approximately the same number of people, preference shall be given to those serving more than one village, district, or county. <u>The REFUND will mobilize funding for rural and renewable energy services through the following mechanisms:</u>
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NRICA
  
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#Domestic – Energy taxes, levies, and fees; general taxes; user fees and capital contributions; voluntary corporate social responsibility contributions.
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−
#International – Traditional bilateral and multilateral loans and grants; carbon finance.
+
local cooperative
  
 +
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 +
25kw
  
 +
|
 +
2017
  
−
<u>The three main uses of the REFUND will be:</u>
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 +
almost operational
  
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#Capacity building – This will be based on grant funding and includes support for the operating budget of the RREA, marketing and promotion of renewable energy technologies, and technical assistance (research and development, feasibility studies, business planning, training and development, etc.).
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|-
−
#Project and consumer finance – This includes provision of grants to match community contributions for approved rural and renewable energy projects and programs; provision of subsidized loans for projects that cannot be funded through commercial financial services; provision of consumer loans through micro-credit financial institutions.
+
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−
#Risk management – This includes provision of partial or full guarantees for approved rural and renewable energy projects and programs that can be funded through commercial financial services but where the project promoters do not have the collateral needed.
+
Totota
  
 +
|
 +
Bong
  
 +
| colspan="2" |
 +
solar/diesel
  
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The focus of the existing working team of RREA is on '''sustainable solar market packages (SSMP)'''. In additon it is planned to work out a Rural Energy Master Plan, which will provide a prioritized development program to achieve universal energy access. Together with a Grid Development Master Plan, the country’s long-run marginal cost can then be derived to serve as a strategic planning guide.<br/>'''Energy Regulatory Board (ERB): '''ERB approves the tariffs and prices set by the operators. The general policy is that energy services should be provided on a full cost-recovery basis to those who are able to pay and on a targeted subsidized basis to those who can only afford to pay a portion of the cost.The Government intends to establish a regulatory process for monitoring all costs – economic, financial, social, and environmental – and allocating these to the user (rate payer or polluter) or public (taxpayer) as appropriate.<br/>'''Bureau of Standards''': is responsible to establish standards to ensure accuracy of meters and gauges, product safety, security, reliability, consistency, purity, and availability as well as timeliness in responding to stakeholder service requests.<br/>'''Liberia Electricity Company (LEC):''' The utility is managed by a joint venture between Manitoba Hydro International and Kenyan Power and Light Corporation based on a 5-year Management Contract (MC) that started on July 1st, 2010. The management is supervised by a Board that is supported by NetGroup (RSA) in its monitoring and supervisory role. The MC incorporates a results based financing component. It includes performance fees and penalties for over and under performance, respectively, on key indicators. In addition, reduction/increases in operational costs will lead to performance/penalty fees.<br/>A key aspect of the MC is that the target indicators were to be based on the initial (tentative) commitments from donors for<br/>investment contributions, totaling $53million over the 5 years. Thus, the Operator has a strong incentive to use donor contributions<br/>effectively and achieve improved results. In addition, the World Bank has committed some $2million per year in OBA financing. Further to the performance indicators, the Operator is required to carry out a range of training activities and has rather<br/>extensive reporting requirements. Performance indicators include:<br/>reduction of technical and non-technical losses from 23% to 12%, generation efficiency, increase of the billing and collection rate from 94 to 97%, removal of illegal connections/networks and correction of metering discrepancies and to connect additional 10000 customers.
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 +
&nbsp;
  
 +
|
 +
private operator
  
 +
|
 +
25KW
  
−
== Internationally Funded Projects and Programmes&nbsp;<br/> ==
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 +
2016
  
−
=== Main Energy Programmes / Activities in the Past<br/> ===
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 +
operational, plans for extention
  
−
In 2006, the '''Emergency Power Program (EPP)''' was designed to re-establish public power supply as part of the Government’s political stabilization and economic reconstruction program. Several international partners, including the '''United States Agency for International Development (USAID)''', Norway, the European Union, and the World Bank provided over US $40 million in grant funding and technical assistance. As a result of EPP, power generation based on diesel providing 9.6 MW, 80 km of transmission and distribution network were restored, 1,000 street lights installed and over 2,500 customers in Monrovia served. As a next step power generation was increased to 23MW with 10MW financed by USAID and 3MW by Norway<br/>The '''Liberia Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) '''was a parallel initiative undertaken by the I'''nternational Resources Group (IRG)'''. <u>LEAP was composed of five tasks, which include the following:</u>
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|-
 +
|
 +
[http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/project-plants/134-plans-for-lofa-hydropower-and-diesel-powered-grid-rrea-world-bank Hydropower/Diesel grid for Lofa (RREA, World Bank)]
  
−
*Continued support to LEC, e.g. on prepaid meter systems
+
|
−
*Support Energy Sector Reform (Support to the establishment of a Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) and a Rural Energy Fund (REF)
+
Lofa
−
*Development of a National Energy Policy (NEP))
 
−
*Urban Community Development Pilots
 
−
*Rural Community Development Pilots (including Implementation of social PV (health centers, schools,…)
 
−
*Integrating Energy Services into Other Mission Programs
 
  
−
As part of the program the Energy and Security group, a US based service company supported the installation of PV system of different sizes on social institutions and enterprises.&nbsp;&nbsp;
+
|
 +
hydro/diesel
  
 +
|
 +
World Bank
  
 +
|
 +
RREA
  
−
=== New Energy Programmes<br/> ===
+
|
 +
private operator
  
−
'''1) Norway''': provides roughly 50 Mil. EUR for the support of the energy sector with several programmes. They cover nearly all aspects of the sector’s development:
+
|
 +
2.5MW
  
−
*The “Gaps” Project has provided funds to improve access to electricity among the residents of Monrovia (3,500 new connections), and has improved the overall performance of the Monrovia grid, and thereby LEC. Additionally, the project has improved safety through installing street lights (100).
+
|
−
*The project to support the Liberian Electricity Corporation has contributed a) to put in place an international operator who manages LEC for 5 years and thereby helps to establish LEC as a competent, professional, financially robust and responsible electric utility. It also significantly improved electricity services throughout Monrovia, reduced sector costs and thereby electricity prices, and enabled LEC to effectively manage donor contributions so as to achieve at least 30,000 new connections and b) to implement the investment plans among other the rehabilitation of the hydro power station Mt Coffee.
+
2019
−
*The institutional program between the Norwegian Water Resource and Energy Directorate (NVE) and Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (MLME) (2010 to 2015) has the objective to develop skills at monitoring and managing water and energy resources through capacity building at the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy. The Programme is based on the following six components:<br/>- Preparation of a legal and regulatory framework for the power sector<br/>- Capacity building in the MLME and the LEC, and other government agencies.<br/>- Generation, planning and coordination<br/>- Upgrading of the national hydrometeorological network and database<br/>- Rural and renewable energy<br/>- The gender aspects and women’s empowerment in the energy sector
 
  
−
'''2) World Bank'''&nbsp;is carrying out the Liberia Electricity Enhancement Project (LESEP) since 2010. The total project budget was 51 m USD (10 m IDA, 10 m GPOBA, 2 m AFREA and 29 m NORAD). The project includes the following components:<br/>Component A. Enhancing delivery of distribution services, including for low-income<br/>households;<br/>Sub-component A.1: Distribution network reinforcement and extension (IDA).<br/>Sub-Component A.2: Connection of new low-income costumers (GPOBA).<br/>Sub-Component A.3: Distribution network reinforcement and extension (Government of Norway).<br/>Component B. Enhancing options for power generation (IDA)<br/>Component C. Providing modern renewable energy services to off-grid users<br/>Sub-component C.1: Renewable energy pilot activities in rural areas (AFREA, GEF).<br/>Sub-component C.2: Technical Assistance (AFREA, GEF).<br/>Component D. Technical assistance for the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (IDA).<br/>As part of the program GPOBA is financing new connections to the grid, so that the targets for additional connections for 2012 and 2013 are 20,000 customers of which approximately 16,000 will be poor or low income residential. The budget is 10 Mil. USD or 500 USD per connection.
+
|
 +
planned
  
−
LESEP was recently upscaled with additional $ 56.9 m (including 33 m from JIPCA, 1.45 m GEF and 0,5 m Norway) in support of grid and off-electrification.
+
|-
 +
|
 +
Langbemba
  
−
'''3) USAID '''– New Renewable Energy Programme:<br/>$24mio over 4 years; $4mio into power generation; $4mio into institutional support for implementation of NEP<br/><u>Focus:</u>
+
|
 +
Lofa
  
−
*(community-run) MHP
+
|
−
*Biomass (residue use)
+
solar
−
*Potentially hybrid systems of MHP and biomass gasification as rivers dry up in dry season
 
−
*Winrock International has a four-year (2010 to 2014) contract to support USAID/Liberia in their efforts to increase access to affordable, renewable energy services in geographically focused rural and urban areas. The project is entitled the Liberia Energy Sector Support Program, LESSP. The focus of this programme is capacity development of governmental institutions to strengthen the GOL's capacity to implement plans for rural electrification as expressed in the national energy sector policy.
 
  
 +
|
 +
EU
  
 +
|
 +
PLAN & VOSIEDA
  
−
=== Synthesis of Donor Interventions in the Electricity Sector<br/> ===
+
|
 +
local cooperative
  
−
{| style="width: 100%" border="1" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="788"
+
|  
−
|- valign="TOP"
+
31.1KW
−
| bgcolor="#ccffff" height="10" width="80" |
 
−
'''<font size="1">Name</font><br/>'''
 
  
−
| bgcolor="#ccffff" width="110" |  
+
|  
−
'''<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Project Description</font>'''
+
2017
  
−
| bgcolor="#ccffff" width="78" |  
+
|  
−
'''<font size="1">Sub-sector</font>'''
+
Needs repair after fire
  
−
| bgcolor="#ccffff" width="67" |  
+
|-
−
'''<font size="1">Units</font>'''
+
|  
 +
Taninahun<br/>
  
−
| bgcolor="#ccffff" width="58" |  
+
|  
−
'''<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Capacity</font>'''
+
Lofa
  
−
| bgcolor="#ccffff" width="75" |  
+
|  
−
'''<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Location</font>'''
+
solar
  
−
| bgcolor="#ccffff" width="67" |  
+
|  
−
'''<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Cost (US$m)</font>'''
+
EU
  
−
| bgcolor="#ccffff" width="82" |  
+
|  
−
'''<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Financiers</font>'''
+
PLAN & VOSIEDA
  
−
| bgcolor="#ccffff" width="62" |  
+
|  
−
'''<font size="1">Status</font>'''
+
local cooperative
  
−
|- valign="TOP"
+
|  
−
| bgcolor="#ccffcc" height="94" width="80" |
+
28.5KW
−
<font size="1">Liberia Electricity System Enhancement project (LESEP)</font>
 
  
−
| width="110" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Expansion of Monrovia’s distribution network; Rehabilitation of HFO storage/offloading facilities; Generation overhaul; Capacity building of LEC</font>
+
2017
  
−
| width="78" |  
+
|  
−
<font size="1">Distribution Generation</font>
+
Operational
  
−
| bgcolor="#ffff99" width="67" |  
+
|-
−
<font size="1">Urban households</font>
+
|  
 +
Mamikonedu
  
−
| width="58" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">33'000</font>
+
Lofa
  
−
| width="75" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Monrovia</font>
+
solar
  
−
| width="67" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">48</font>
+
EU
  
−
| width="82" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">NORAD, GPOBA, IDA</font>
+
PLAN & VOSIEDA
  
−
| width="62" |  
+
|  
−
<font size="1">On-going</font>
+
local cooperative
  
−
|- valign="TOP"
+
|  
−
| bgcolor="#ccffcc" height="94" width="80" |
+
25.5KW
−
<font size="1">Liberia Electricity System Enhancement project (LESEP)</font>
 
  
−
| width="110" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Establishment of Rural and Renewable Energy Agency. Provision of micro-hydro, solar energy to off-grid users</font>
+
2017
  
−
| width="78" |  
+
|  
−
<font size="1">Rural Electrification</font>
+
Operational
  
−
| bgcolor="#ffff99" width="67" |  
+
|-
−
<font size="1">Rural households</font>
+
|  
 +
Koiyama
  
−
| width="58" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">9'000</font>
+
Lofa
  
−
| width="75" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Lofa, Bong</font>
+
solar
  
−
| width="67" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">3</font>
+
EU
  
−
| width="82" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">AFREA TF</font>
+
PLAN & VOSIEDA
  
−
| width="62" |  
+
|  
−
<font size="1">On-going</font>
+
local cooperative
  
−
|- valign="TOP"
+
|  
−
| bgcolor="#ccffcc" height="52" width="80" |
+
22.5KW
−
<font size="1">Rural Energy Master Plan and SSMP</font>
 
  
−
| width="110" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Development of Liberia's rural energy master plan; Pilot rural SSMP</font>
+
2017
  
−
| width="78" |  
+
|  
−
<font size="1">Rural Electrification</font>
+
Operational
  
−
| bgcolor="#ffff99" width="67" |  
+
|-
−
<font size="1">Rural households</font>
+
|  
 +
Nyengbelahun
  
−
| width="58" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">4'000</font>
+
Lofa
  
−
| width="75" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Lofa</font>
+
&nbsp;
  
−
| width="67" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">2</font>
+
EU
  
−
| width="82" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">EU</font>
+
PLAN & VOSIEDA
  
−
| width="62" |  
+
|  
−
<font size="1">Funding secured</font>
+
local cooperative
  
−
|- valign="TOP"
+
|  
−
| bgcolor="#ccffcc" height="73" width="80" |
+
??
−
<font size="1">Cross Border Rural Electrification</font>
 
  
−
| width="110" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Cross Border Rural Communities Electrification project (Côte d'Ivoire - Liberia)</font>
+
2017
  
−
| width="78" |  
+
|  
−
<font size="1">Rural Electrification</font>
+
Operational
  
−
| bgcolor="#ffff99" width="67" |  
+
|-
−
<font size="1">Population</font>
+
|  
 +
Gbarnway
  
−
| width="58" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">130'000</font>
+
Lofa
  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">(25’000 households)</font>
+
|
 +
&nbsp;
  
−
| width="75" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Nimba, Grand Ghede and Maryland counties</font>
+
USAID
  
−
| width="67" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">11.7</font>
+
&nbsp;
  
−
| width="82" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">WAPP(50%) EU (50%)</font>
+
&nbsp;
  
−
| width="62" |  
+
|  
−
<font size="1">Funding secured</font>
+
24KW
  
−
|- valign="TOP"
+
|  
−
| bgcolor="#ccffcc" height="41" width="80" |
+
&nbsp;
−
<font size="1">Buchanan Renewable Energy</font>
 
  
−
| width="110" |  
+
|  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Biomass energy plant using rubber wood chips</font>
+
&nbsp;
  
−
| width="78" |
+
|}
−
<font size="1">Generation</font>
 
  
−
| bgcolor="#ffcc00" width="67" |
+
<br/>
−
<font size="1">MW</font>
 
  
−
| width="58" |
+
== Electricity Consumption<br/> ==
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">31 - 35</font>
 
  
−
| width="75" |
+
&nbsp;According to the World Fact book (CIA) electricity consumption is about 39 million kWh (2016 est.) Based on a 2014 household survey, only 4.5% of Liberians use Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC)power. 4.9% use a community generator, 4.4% have their own generator, 3.9% use vehicle batteries, and 0.8% use other sources of electricity. 81.3% have no access to electricity. LEC accounts for roughly 70 million kWh of ouput. (2016 est.)<br/>
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Kakata</font>
 
  
−
| width="67" |
+
9.1% of the population have access to electricity, 16.8% or urban population and 1.7% of rural population (World Bank, 2014)
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">170</font>
 
  
−
| width="82" |
+
<u>The actual demand for Liberia, including the various concessions, is likely to be in excess of 350 MW by 2020, for the following reasons:</u>
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">BR, OPIC, Mr.McBain</font>
 
  
−
| width="62" |
+
*Liberia’s population has been growing at an average annual rate of 2.5%. Over 42 percent of the population is under 14 years of age. With a large pent-up demand for consumer goods and services as evidenced by previous levels of demand and rising incomes, demand for energy used in the production of these goods will increase as the population rises.<br/>
−
<font size="1">Planned</font>
+
*Since pre-conflict electricity capacity exceeded 400 MW, it seems likely that at some point the economy will begin to take off and very quickly reach previous levels of capacity. Industries which are large consumers of energy are only now looking at Liberia for opportunities to re-invest. Cement processing, rubber processing, breweries, and other factories and industrial operations have a huge demand for power. Prior to the civil conflict, the iron ore industry consumed about 210 MW of electricity. Although none of these former mines are currently in operation, the Government has prioritized their re-opening in the short to medium term, beginning with a recent concession agreement with ArcelorMittal for one of the former mines. The next two concessions for the Western Cluster iron ore deposits and the Old Bong Mines will be awarded soon. Furthermore, aggressive mineral exploration and resource appraisal programs for additional iron ore deposits are underway. The prospects for new hard rock mines for minerals such as gold, diamonds, uranium, and bauxite are very promising. The demand for energy for these operations in the medium and long term will be very significant, and without a strong Government energy policy, the requisite power to fuel these mining operations will not be developed.<br/>
 +
*The agriculture sector, although mostly artisanal at present, has a high demand for energy services. Agro-based concessions, such as rubber and other mechanized activities, produce electricity for their own consumption. Demand for energy in agriculture in the short, medium, and long term will be significant.<br/>
  
−
|- valign="TOP"
+
Almost 50% of Liberia’s population resides in rural areas, while most of the remaining live in and around the urban center of Monrovia. Rural households expend a significant amount of their meager incomes on inferior forms of energy such as candles, flashlights, and kerosene or oil lanterns for lighting. Higher fuel costs result from long transportation distances, fragmented delivery systems, and absence of economies of scale.<br/>
−
| bgcolor="#ccffcc" height="67" width="80" |
 
−
<font size="1">The Liberia Energy Sector Support Program (LESSP)</font>
 
  
−
| width="110" |
+
[[Liberia Energy Situation#toc|►Go to Top]]
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Four pilots to create micro-grids in rural areas based on biomass and hydro sources</font>
 
  
−
| width="78" |
+
= Energy Policy, Strategy and Institutions<br/> =
−
<font size="1">Rural Electrification</font>
 
  
−
| bgcolor="#ffff99" width="67" |
+
The '''Government of Liberia (GOL)''' is considering energy access to the population, particularly to the previously neglected rural poor a cornerstone of its policy. The following overview of policies, strategies, legal and institutional framework is taken with friendly permission from [http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/home/liberia-s-energy-landscape http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/home/liberia-s-energy-landscape].
−
<font size="1">Rural households</font>
 
  
−
| width="58" |
 
 
&nbsp;
 
&nbsp;
  
−
| width="75" |
+
== Policies, strategies, commitments<br/> ==
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Lofa, Bong, Nimba</font>
+
 
 +
The GoL published in 2007 a '''Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy and Action Plan'''. In the document the government outlines its policy to build and increase the application of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in Liberia by promoting investment, technology transfer, market development and local capacity building.<br/>
 +
 
 +
<br/>
 +
 
 +
In 2009 a '''National Energy Policy Policy for Liberia (NEPL)''' aims to ensure universal access to modern energy services in an affordable, sustainable and environmentally-friendly manner in order to foster the economic, political, and social development of Liberia.&nbsp; This is to be achieved by good governance and ensuring financial transparency in all sector transactions, overcoming the significant obstacles to private sector investment in energy supply; and creating the requisite institutional and legal framework and an independent regulatory regime.In addition, the GoL declares its intention to drive Liberia towards a carbon neutral economy by 2050.
 +
 
 +
<br/>
 +
 
 +
Liberia has the '''Vision “Liberia RISING 2030”''' aiming for Liberia to become a Middle Income Country by the year 2030. This vision includes and proposes the targets of having 70% of Monrovia be connected to the electricity grid and 35% of the rural areas of Liberia connected to mini-grids/isolated, stand-alone units by 2030.
  
−
| width="67" |
+
<br/>
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">6</font>
 
  
−
| width="82" |
+
The '''Poverty Reduction Strategy''' and the follow-up'''Agenda for Transformation''' (the first five years on the road towards the Vision “Liberia Rising 2030”) strive to consolidate peace and security, revitalize the economy, strengthen governance and the rule of law; and rehabilitate infrastructure and delivering basic services.&nbsp; The Agenda for Transformation (AfT) recognizes that investments in energy to unlock the urban and rural economies have the greatest return on investments and should be prioritized by expanding electricity access throughout the country.<br/>
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">USAID</font>
 
  
−
| width="62" |
+
<br/>
−
<font size="1">Funding secured</font>
 
  
−
|- valign="TOP"
+
Liberia is committed to making progress with the '''United Nations (UN) Sustainable Energy for all (SE4ALL) '''Initiative, and the '''Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)'''. The commitment of the government of Liberia to SE4ALL Action Agenda has been developed with the backdrop of the country’s overall development objectives of the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), the national Agenda for Transformation (AfT) objectives, the National Energy Policy of Liberia (NEPL) and achievement of the MDGs, SDGs and the SE4ALL objectives in Liberia<br/>
−
| bgcolor="#ccffcc" height="31" width="80" |
 
−
<font size="1">Diesel Generators</font>
 
  
−
| width="110" |
+
<br/>
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Additional generators for Monrovia</font>
 
  
−
| width="78" |
+
As a&nbsp;member state of ECOWAS, Liberia subscribed and participated in the adoption of the '''ECOWAS policies on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RE&EE) '''to be implemented at the national level.
−
<font size="1">Generation</font>
 
  
−
| bgcolor="#ff0000" width="67" |
+
<br/>
−
<font size="1">MW</font>
 
  
−
| width="58" |
+
In 2016, the'''Rural Energy Strategy and Master Plan For Liberia (RESMP)''' was presented and published under [http://liberiaruralenergy.org http://liberiaruralenergy.org]. &nbsp;<br/>
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">3</font>
 
  
−
| width="75" |
+
<br/>
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Bushrod (Monrovia)</font>
 
  
−
| width="67" |
+
== Rural Energy Strategy and Master Plan<br/> ==
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">2</font>
 
  
−
| width="82" |
+
The Rural Energy Strategy and Master Plan (RESMP) aims to achieve the GoL’s rural electrification access rate of 35% by 2030, benefitting about 1.3 million people.
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">NORAD</font>
 
  
−
| width="62" |
+
<br/>
−
<font size="1">Complete</font>
 
  
−
|- valign="TOP"
+
It includes targets for the period until 2030:
−
| bgcolor="#ccffcc" height="31" width="80" |
 
−
<font size="1">Diesel Generators</font>
 
  
−
| width="110" |
+
*Electrification rate for the population outside of Monrovia of 10% in 2020, 20% in 2025 and 35% in 2030
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Additional generators for Monrovia</font>
+
*All county capitals, health facilities and secondary schools electrified already before 2025
 +
*More than 75% of all electricity generated from renewables by 2030 with 19% coming from other than large hydro: Mini-hydro, Solar and Biomass.<br/>
 +
*Universal access to affordable solar lamps, efficient appliances and cook stoves.
 +
*electrification of at least 2,000 settlements with grid infrastructure connecting at least 50% of those settlement’s population by 2030.<br/>
 +
*the ten largest settlements in every county electrified with no county having less than 15% electrification rate by 2030.<br/>
 +
*a credit/subsidy mechanism for connection of poor and woman-led households through Rural Energy Fund, promoting active participation of women in the jobs that will be created for electrifying the country.
  
−
| width="78" |
+
The RESMP covers 5 Programs, which consists of 21 Initiatives and 92 projects. For more information: [http://liberiaruralenergy.org http://liberiaruralenergy.org]. &nbsp;
−
<font size="1">Generation</font>
 
  
−
| bgcolor="#ff0000" width="67" |
+
&nbsp;<br/>
−
<font size="1">MW</font>
 
  
−
| width="58" |
+
== Legal framework ==
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">10</font>
 
  
−
| width="75" |
+
The 2015 '''Electricity Law of Liberia'''
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Bushrod (Monrovia)</font>
 
  
−
| width="67" |
+
<br/>'''Liberian Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC)''', will be empowered to generate and distribute electricity within a prescribed service area. By law, this independent Regulator must be in place from October 23, 2017. However, it is not in place yet. Until the LERC is created, the licenses will be issued by the MLME.<br/>
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">6</font>
 
  
−
| width="82" |
+
<br/>
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">USAID</font>
 
  
−
| width="62" |
+
A '''Mini-Grid Code for Liberia '''is in the process to be developed to define legal, technical, quality of service, safety and other conditions through which future service providers will be authorized to offer commercial energy services. This is to ensure that electric service offered by future service providers complies with international best practices.
−
<font size="1">Complete</font>
 
  
−
|- valign="TOP"
+
<br/>
−
| bgcolor="#ccffcc" height="31" width="80" |
 
−
<font size="1">HFO-fired generation plant</font>
 
  
−
| width="110" |
+
The '''Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Law and NOCAL Act''' of 2014 was approved in 2016 and replaced the National Oil Law of 2000. Commercial and regulatory functions in the petroleum are separated into two institutions: Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) and National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL).&nbsp; All petroleum contracts require competitive bidding. The law also outlines standards for royalties and other fees in production sharing contracts and requires companies to declare true owners and beneficial ownership disclosure.<br/>
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Additional generators for Monrovia</font>
 
  
−
| width="78" |
+
<br/>
−
<font size="1">Generation</font>
 
  
−
| bgcolor="#ff0000" width="67" |
+
== Institutional Set Up ==
−
<font size="1">MW</font>
 
  
−
| width="58" |
+
The '''Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (MLME), '''especially the '''Department of Energy (DoE)''', is responsible to plan, formulate and strengthen energy policies, regulatory & institutional frameworks and strateigies, to create a conducive environment for delivery of electricity and rural electrification.
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">10 - 20</font>
 
  
−
| width="75" |
+
<br/>
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Bushrod (Monrovia)</font>
 
  
−
| width="67" |
+
The '''Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC),''' a utility financed by various multilateral and bilateral donor agencies, plans to broaden energy transmission and distribution to function through corridors surrounding Monrovia, over to Buchanan, Kakata and through the counties of Nimba, Maryland and Grand Gedeh.
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">15-30</font>
 
  
−
| width="82" |
+
<br/>
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">JICA</font>
 
  
−
| width="62" |
+
The '''Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA)''', is an autonomous agency (reporting to the president) mandated to commercially develop and provide modern energy services to rural Liberia with emphasis on utilizing available local renewable energy resources. The RREA’s mandate includes integrating energy into rural development planning; promotion of renewable energy technologies; facilitating delivery of energy products and services; and facilitating the funding of rural energy projects including managing a '''Rural Energy Fund (REFUND)''' for sustainable energy services financing, coordinating domestic and international financial resources. REFUND is not yet in place.<br/>
−
<font size="1">Planned</font>
 
  
−
|- valign="TOP"
+
<br/>
−
| bgcolor="#ccffcc" height="73" width="80" |
 
−
<font size="1">WAPP CLSG</font>
 
  
−
| width="110" |
+
The RREA also holds the Secretariat of the '''Rural Energy Working Group (REWG)''' that aims to monitor and coordinate activities towards rural electrification. The Steering Committee of the REWG started monthly meetings in October 2017 and includes the Secretariat (RREA), relevant GOL entities (MLME, LEC, MCC/MCA, RREA, EPA, MPW, MIA, etc.) and Development Partners (USAID, EU, WB, AfDB, SE/SIDA, MCA/MCC, GIZ/EnDev, etc.).
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea (CLSG) Weat Africa Power Pool (WAPP) interconnection and sub-stations</font>
 
  
−
| width="78" |
+
<br/>
−
<font size="1">Transmission</font>
 
  
−
| bgcolor="#ff0000" width="67" |
+
The '''West African Power Pool''' ('''WAPP'''), founded in 2000, is a cooperation of national electricity companies in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The aim is to establish a reliable power grid for the region and a common market for electricity. In Liberia, WAPP is involved in the cross-border electricity transmission from Cote d’Ivoire.
−
<font size="1">Kms</font>
 
  
 +
<br/>
  
 +
The '''Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) '''grants Reconnaissance License, Petroleum Agreement and License for Petroleum Transportation System.&nbsp;
  
−
<font size="1">MW</font>
+
<br/>
  
−
| width="58" |
+
The '''National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) '''administers and controls the rights, title, and interest in oil and gas deposits and reserves in the Liberian territory.
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">510</font>
 
  
 +
<br/>
  
 +
= Internationally Funded Projects and Programmes =
  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">100 Through interconnection</font>
+
The web portal [http://www.renewables-liberia.info www.renewables-liberia.info] compiles, coordinates and updates information and knowledge about renewable energy activities in Liberia. The continuously updated overview (copied below with friendly permission) and more detailed information of past and current development programs can be found at [http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/programs http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/programs].
  
−
| width="75" |
+
== Current programs or projects ==
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Yekepa Buchanan</font>
 
  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Mt. Coffee Monrovia-Foya</font>
+
{| style="width: 749px" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
 +
|-
 +
| style="width:142px" |
 +
'''Name'''
  
−
| width="67" |  
+
| style="width: 225px" |  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">494</font>
+
'''Key activities'''
  
−
| width="82" |  
+
| style="width: 89px" |  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">EIB, EU, IDA, KfW</font>
+
'''Implementer'''
  
−
| width="62" |  
+
| style="width: 71px" |  
−
<font size="1">Funding secured</font>
+
'''Region'''
  
−
|- valign="TOP"
+
| style="width: 69px" |  
−
| bgcolor="#ccffcc" height="45" width="80" |  
+
'''Funded by'''
−
<font size="1">Mt. Coffee HEP</font>
 
  
−
| width="110" |  
+
| style="width: 84px" |  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Rehabilitation of pre-war hydro-electric plant of Mount Coffee</font>
+
'''Duration'''
  
−
| width="78" |  
+
|-
−
<font size="1">Generation</font>
+
|  
 +
[http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/36-projects/development-programs/175-regional-off-grid-electrification-project-rogep-ecree-world-bank Regional Off-Grid Electrification Project (ROGEP)]<br/>
  
−
| bgcolor="#ff0000" width="67" |  
+
| style="width: 225px" |  
−
<font size="1">MW</font>
+
TA for off-grid market; loans for electricity service providers; Support to electrify public institutions.
  
−
| width="58" |  
+
| style="width: 89px" |  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">64</font>
+
ECREEE &nbsp;&nbsp;
  
−
| width="75" |  
+
| style="width: 71px" |  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">St John River</font>
+
19 countries: 15 West Africa, 4 Sahel
  
−
| width="67" |  
+
| style="width: 69px" |  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">162</font>
+
World Bank&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  
−
| width="82" |  
+
| style="width: 84px" |  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Norway, KfW, EIB, (AfDB, WB)</font>
+
2017- 2022
  
−
| width="62" |  
+
|-
−
<font size="1">Funding Pledges received</font>
+
| style="width:142px" |  
 +
[http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/programs/current-programs/117-liberia-renewable-energy-access-project-lirenap-rrea-worldbank LIRENAP]
  
−
|- valign="TOP"
+
| style="width: 225px" |  
−
| bgcolor="#ccffcc" height="52" width="80" |  
+
Hybrid hydropower and Diesel plant and grid in Lofa, Capacity Building; Market development of stand-alone solar systems
−
<font size="1">Foya River HEP</font>
 
  
−
| width="110" |  
+
| style="width: 89px" |  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">New hydro-electric plant</font>
+
RREA
  
−
| width="78" |  
+
| style="width: 71px" |  
−
<font size="1">Generation</font>
+
Lofa, nation-wide
  
−
| bgcolor="#ffcc00" width="67" |  
+
| style="width: 69px" |  
−
<font size="1">MW</font>
+
Strategic Climate Fund Grant, Worldbank
  
−
| width="58" |  
+
| style="width: 84px" |  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">50</font>
+
28-Jan-2016 to 30-Jun-2021
  
−
| width="75" |  
+
|-
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Foya River (border Liberia/ Sierra Leone)</font>
+
| style="width:142px" |  
 +
[http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/programs/139-energising-development-liberia-giz-endev EnDev Liberia]<br/>
  
−
| width="67" |  
+
| style="width: 225px" |  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">143</font>
+
Strengthen Renewable Energy Sector, Promotion of solar technologies, Pico PV, cocoa solar dryers, improved cookstoves
  
−
| width="82" |  
+
| style="width: 89px" |
 +
GIZ/EnDev
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 71px" |
 +
Nation-wide
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 69px" |
 +
Netherlands, Germany, UK, Australia, Norway, Swizzerland
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 84px" |
 +
2012-2018
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
| style="width:142px" |
 +
[http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/programs/current-programs/119-light-up-liberia-mercy-corps-eu LUL]
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 225px" |
 +
Curriculum Development, Market Facilitation, Financial service&nbsp;and Pico-grid installation
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 89px" |
 +
Mercy Corps
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 71px" |
 +
Margibi, Lofa, Nimba, Bong, Grand Bassa,&nbsp; Rural Montserrado, Gbarpolu,
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 69px" |
 +
EU
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 84px" |
 +
March 2016-2019
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
| style="width:142px" |
 +
[http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/programs/current-programs/61-light-up-our-futures LUOF]<br/>
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 225px" |
 +
Solar electrifying five remote communities
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 89px" |
 +
PLAN International, VOSEIDA
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 71px" |
 +
Lofa&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 69px" |
 +
EU&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 84px" |
 +
2015-2017
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
|
 +
[http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/project-plants/115-mt-coffee-hydropower-plant Mt. Coffee Hydropower Plant]<br/>
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 225px" |
 +
Rehabilitation of&nbsp; hydropower plant (generating units, powerhouse, intake, dam and spillway) and reservoir, 132/66 kilovolt (kV) substation, two
 +
 
 +
132/66 kV transmission lines, expansion of receiving substations in Monrovia.
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 89px" |
 +
Manitoba Hydro International, Norplan Fichtner, Voith, Dawnus, Andritz, Ncc, Eltel, Psm Jv, Hydro Operation International
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 71px" |
 +
Montserrado
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 69px" |
 +
Norway (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Germany (KFW Development Bank, European Investment Bank), USA (Millenium Challenge Corporation), GoL
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 84px" |
 +
May 2012- Dec. 2017
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
| style="width:142px" |
 +
[http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/project-stand-alone-system/155-light-every-birth-we-care-solar-partners Light Every Birth (We Care Solar & partners)]<br/>
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 225px" |
 +
Solar suitcases for maternity wards
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 89px" |
 +
We Care Solar, UNICEF, GIZ/EnDev, Africare, PHIL
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 71px" |
 +
Nation-wide
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 69px" |
 +
UNDESA, UBS Optimus Foundation, Gilead Foundation and private donors
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 84px" |
 +
2016-18
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
| style="width:142px" |
 +
Liberia Renewable Energy Project
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 225px" |
 +
9.34 MW mini-hydro power plant at Gbedin Falls
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 89px" |
 +
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 71px" |
 +
Nimba county
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 69px" |
 +
AfDB&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 84px" |
 +
2018-
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
| style="width:142px" |
 +
Concessions in South East<br/>
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 225px" |
 +
TA on how private sector can be attracted to 5 major settlements in S.E. First financial pre-feasibility study - Gbanga prioritised
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 89px" |
 +
TBD&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 71px" |
 +
South East: Cestos city, Greenville, Barclayville, Harper, Pleebo, Fish town, Zwedru, Tappita, and Gbarnga
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 69px" |
 +
EU
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 84px" |
 +
ongoing
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
| style="width:142px" |
 +
Power Africa - Beyond the Grid
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 225px" |
 +
Rehabilitation of Mt. Coffee hydroelectric plant, pilot projects, road rehabilitation
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 89px" |
 +
NRECA
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 71px" |  
 
&nbsp;
 
&nbsp;
  
−
| width="62" |  
+
| style="width: 69px" |  
−
<font size="1">Funding unsecured</font>
+
USAID
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 84px" |
 +
2015-March 2018
  
−
|- valign="TOP"
+
|-
−
| bgcolor="#ccffcc" height="31" width="80" |  
+
| style="width:142px" |  
−
<font size="1">St. Paul River HEP1B and 2</font>
+
Technical Assistance for reduction of maternal mortality in Liberia<br/>
  
−
| width="110" |  
+
| style="width: 225px" |  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">New hydro-electric plants</font>
+
Telemedicine support for midwives, trainings, solar installations, smartphones
  
−
| width="78" |  
+
| style="width: 89px" |  
−
<font size="1">Generation</font>
+
Epos, MoH, GIZ/EnDev
  
−
| bgcolor="#ffcc00" width="67" |  
+
| style="width: 71px" |  
−
<font size="1">MW</font>
+
Grand Gedeh
  
−
| width="58" |  
+
| style="width: 69px" |  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">198</font>
+
EU
  
−
| width="75" |  
+
| style="width: 84px" |  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">St Paul River</font>
+
2017
  
−
| width="67" |  
+
|-
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">879</font>
+
| style="width:142px" |  
 +
[http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/programs/current-programs/118-the-liberia-energy-efficiency-and-access-project-leeap-lec-multi-donor LEEAP]
  
−
| width="82" |  
+
| style="width: 225px" |
 +
Constructing transmission and distribution lines, capacity building
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 89px" |
 +
LEC
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 71px" |
 +
Montserrado, Bomi, River Gee, Maryland
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 69px" |
 +
AfDB, TSF, NTF, EU, GEF, GoL
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 84px" |
 +
2017-2019&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
 +
 
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
== Past development programs or projects ==
 +
 
 +
{| style="width: 753px" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
 +
|-
 +
| style="width: 137px" |
 +
'''Name'''
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 211px" |
 +
'''Key activities'''
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 103px" |
 +
'''Implementer'''
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 88px" |
 +
'''Region'''
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 109px" |
 +
'''Funded by'''
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 84px" |
 +
'''Duration'''
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
| style="width: 137px" |
 +
[http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/programs/152-the-lighting-lives-in-liberia-lll-project The Lighting Lives in Liberia (LLL) Project]<br/>
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 211px" |
 +
Solar electrifications,&nbsp; elaboration of regulations, market support for&nbsp;stand-alone solar systems.
 +
 
 +
&nbsp;
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 103px" |
 +
RREA
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 88px" |
 +
Nationwide
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 109px" |
 +
Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund Grant, World Bank.
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 84px" |
 +
2012-2017
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
| style="width: 137px" |
 +
[http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/42-projects/development-programs/development-programs-past/178-support-the-ministry-of-health-and-social-welfare-of-liberia-in-providing-renewable-energy-sources-to-rural-primary-health-care-facilities Renewable Energy Sources to Rural Primary Health Care Facilities]
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 211px" |
 +
204 health facilities in 15 counties received DC solar installations, 410 health facility staff were trained in maintenance of solar systems.
 +
 
 +
&nbsp;
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 103px" |
 +
Merlin, Save the Children International- Liberia
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 88px" |
 +
Nation-wide
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 109px" |
 +
EU Energy Facility II and the Government of Liberia
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 84px" |  
 
&nbsp;
 
&nbsp;
  
−
| width="62" |  
+
&nbsp;August 2011 – August 2014
−
<font size="1">Funding unsecured</font>
+
 
 +
|-
 +
| style="width: 137px" |
 +
Cross-border Supply of Electricity to Rural Communities in Liberia from Cote d'Ivoire<br/>
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 211px" |
 +
Facilitate the construction of cross-border (MV) interconnections from Cote d’Ivoire to 18 towns in Liberia, providing access to electricity for up to 130,000 persons
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 103px" |
 +
&nbsp;West African Power Pool
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 88px" |  
 +
&nbsp;Grand Gedeh, Nimba, Maryland
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 109px" |
 +
&nbsp;EU
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 84px" |  
 +
&nbsp;01-01-2008 to 05-12-2015
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
| style="width: 137px" |
 +
[http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/42-projects/development-programs/development-programs-past/179-developing-a-rural-energy-strategy-and-master-plan-for-liberia Developing a Rural Energy Strategy and Master Plan for Liberia]<br/>
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 211px" |
 +
Support RREA, developinto a strong, independent, efficient, and sustainable organisation capable of achieving Liberia’s target of increasing access to modern energy services in the rural areas.
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 103px" |
 +
RREA
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 88px" |
 +
Monrovia, Lofa, general
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 109px" |
 +
EU
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 84px" |
 +
August 2011 to April 2016
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
| style="width: 137px" |
 +
'''Advancing Youth Project'''
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 211px" |
 +
Increased access to basic education, skills training for out-of-school youth, solar installations in 142 public schools
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 103px" |
 +
EDC
  
−
|- valign="TOP"
+
| style="width: 88px" |  
−
| bgcolor="#ccffcc" height="31" width="80" |  
+
Montserrado, Margibi Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Bassa
−
<font size="1">Energising Development (EnDev)</font>
 
  
−
| width="110" |  
+
| style="width: 109px" |  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">development of a market for pico PV products; support to installation of a pilot minigrid;</font>
+
USAID
  
−
| width="78" |  
+
| style="width: 84px" |  
−
<font size="1">Rural Electrification</font>
+
2011-2016&nbsp;
  
−
| bgcolor="#ffcc00" width="67" |  
+
|-
−
<font size="1">Population and Social Institutions</font>
+
| style="width: 137px" |  
 +
[http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/programs/138-liberia-energy-sector-support-program-lessp-usaid-2010-2014 More about LESSP]<br/>
  
−
| width="58" |  
+
| style="width: 211px" |  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">5,500 (people)</font>
+
Capacity building, four pilot projects electrifying rural communities with renewable energies (biomass, hydro, solar)
  
−
| width="75" |  
+
| style="width: 103px" |  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">Monrovia, Foya, Lofa</font>
+
Winrock International received
  
−
| width="67" |  
+
| style="width: 88px" |  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">0,586</font>
+
Lofa, Nimba, Bong
  
−
| width="82" |  
+
| style="width: 109px" |  
−
<font style="font-size: 8pt" size="1">BMZ, DGIS, NORAD, DFID, AUSAID</font>
+
USAID
  
−
| width="62" |  
+
| style="width: 84px" |  
−
<font size="1">Pilot Phase</font>
+
2010-2014
  
 
|}
 
|}
  
 +
&nbsp;
  
 +
= '''Further Information''' =
  
−
== References ==
+
*[http://www.renewables-liberia.info www.renewables-liberia.info]
−
 
+
*[http://databank.worldbank.org/data/Views/Reports/ReportWidgetCustom.aspx?Report_Name=CountryProfile&Id=b450fd57&tbar=y&dd=y&inf=n&zm=n&country=LBR http://databank.worldbank.org]
 
*[http://www.energyandsecurity.com/liberia.html www.energyandsecurity.com/liberia.html]
 
*[http://www.energyandsecurity.com/liberia.html www.energyandsecurity.com/liberia.html]
 
*[http://www.energyandsecurity.com/usaidandwinrockinterna.html www.energyandsecurity.com/usaidandwinrockinterna.html]
 
*[http://www.energyandsecurity.com/usaidandwinrockinterna.html www.energyandsecurity.com/usaidandwinrockinterna.html]
 +
*[http://www.se4all.org/sites/default/files/LIBERIA_AA_EN_Released_0.pdf http://www.se4all.org/sites/default/files/LIBERIA_AA_EN_Released_0.pdf]
 +
*[http://mtcoffeeliberia.com/ http://mtcoffeeliberia.com/]
 +
*[http://liberiaruralenergy.org http://liberiaruralenergy.org]. &nbsp;<br/>
 +
*[https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/Liberia_IG_2015_05_03.pdf Policy Brief from USAID on Liberia (2015)]
 +
*[http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/Pdacu973.pdf Min-Term Evaluation of the Liberian Energy Sector Support Program, USAIN(2013)]
 +
 +
[http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTAFRREGTOPENERGY/Resources/717305-1266613906108/Liberia_Energy_ESW_11-4-11web.pdf Options for the Development of Liberia’s Energy Sector (2012)]
 +
 +
*USAID Power Africa: [https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/Liberia_-_November_2018_Country_Fact_Sheet.pdf Liberia Factsheet]
 +
 +
<br/>
 +
 +
= References =
 +
 +
<references />
  
−
[[Category:Liberia]]
+
<br/>[[Liberia Energy Situation#toc|►Go to Top]]<br/>

Latest revision as of 14:21, 21 January 2020


Liberia
Flag of Liberia.png
Location _______.png

Capital:

Monrovia

Region:

Sub-Saharan Africa

Coordinates:

6.3167° N, 10.8000° W

Total Area (km²): It includes a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways.

111,370

Population: It is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin.

5,418,377 (2023)

Rural Population (% of total population): It refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.

46 (2023)

GDP (current US$): It is the sum of gross value added by all resident producers in the economy plus any product taxes and minus any subsidies not included in the value of the products. It is calculated without making deductions for depreciation of fabricated assets or for depletion and degradation of natural resources.

43,320,000,002 (2023)

GDP Per Capita (current US$): It is gross domestic product divided by midyear population

799.50 (2023)

Access to Electricity (% of population): It is the percentage of population with access to electricity.

31.80 (2022)

Energy Imports Net (% of energy use): It is estimated as energy use less production, both measured in oil equivalents. A negative value indicates that the country is a net exporter. Energy use refers to use of primary energy before transformation to other end-use fuels, which is equal to indigenous production plus imports and stock changes, minus exports and fuels supplied to ships and aircraft engaged in international transport.

no data

Fossil Fuel Energy Consumption (% of total): It comprises coal, oil, petroleum, and natural gas products.

no data

Source: World Bank


Introduction

Liberia has currently a population of roughly 4.6 million people. It is estimated that 38% of the population has an income of less than US$1.90 a day. Poverty is considerably higher in rural areas than in urban areas.


Energy consumption in Liberia is dominated by biomass with a share of more than 80% of the used primary energy sources. Most important is woody biomass being used for domestic cooking and heating. In 2004, it was estimated that over 95% of the population depends on firewood and charcoal for cooking and heating needs and palm oil for lighting. The most recent Census (2008 data, published in 2009) shows that 70% of the urban population use charcoal for cooking and 5% of the rural population; 91% of the rural population use firewood for cooking and 21% of the urban population. In Monrovia, the percentage of households using charcoal is even higher, 85%. Around 2% of the population have access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking (World Bank, 2014)


Modern energy services based on electricity and petroleum products are predominantly used for economic production and transportation. In the households, the use of modern energy services consists mainly of kerosene, electricity, and liquefied petroleum gas for lighting, cooking, and entertainment. These are used by higher income households in urban areas.


Historically, electricity was mainly provided in the capital of Monrovia; around 35,000 customers—almost 13 percent of the population—were served by 1989. Total installed electricity capacity was 191 MW. The generation mix was composed of hydropower from the plant at Mt. Coffee—with a supply capacity of 63 MW during the wet season and 5 MW during the dry season (six months)—and 31 percent HFO and 21 percent diesel. The utility LEC also handled the electricity supply of rural areas outside Monrovia through 10 small isolated power systems with a total installed capacity of 13 MW.


According to the data of the government and world bank, about 16.8% of urban residents and less than 2% of rural residents have currently electricity access largely from self-generation with gasoline or diesel generators using expensive imported fuel. The access rate to public electricity is roughly 1%. In March 2012 LEC served about 5,600 connections in Monrovia (around 2,500 residents from an estimated number of 210,000 households), In August 2012 already 11,000 customers are served by LEC. A baseline study carried out by Norad estimates that close to 90,000 households and businesses in Monrovia may be served by small gasoline and diesel generators.Imported electricity from Ivory Coast can be used by around 36000 persons in Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Maryland county.

►Go to Top

Energy Potentials in Liberia

Solar

The humid, tropical climate in Liberia shows relatively constant temperatures throughout the year, around the average of 27° C (81° F ), hardly ever outside the range of 20° C (68° F ) to 36° C (97° F ). In Liberia, monthly solar radiation on horizontal surface ranges from about 4 kWh/m2/day during the rainy season in June, July, August to 6 kWh/m2/day during the height of dry season in February and March.


This high and consistent potential for solar energy across the country adds to an average level of 1,712 kWh/m2/year, which could generate 1,400 to 1,500 kWh/kWp.

Biomass

Some 43% of the land is covered with forests (41,790 square kilometers, World Bank 2015), thus there is no lack of trees in Liberia. There are 11 designated National Forests in the country (under limited protection), and two legally protected areas, Sapo National Park (approximately 149,000 ha) and East Nimba (about 15,000 ha). The FDA, Forest Development Authority has the exclusive rights to manage forest resources and focuses on large-scale concessions for timber extraction.


The US national Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) studied biomass resources (other than forestry) in Liberia with a view how these resources could be used for energy purposes. NREL also indicated that the potential annual waste stream from logging operations - once they restart - could be very substantial, with an estimated 20 million m3 available (162,645 TJ/year), of which 10.9 million m3 at sawmills and the remainder at the logging site; most of that waste would be lost. The annual waste at the sawmills would be able to produce 100 million bags of charcoal, if all waste were convertible into charcoal; this is much more than is currently used in the country.


NREL further estimates that of the total cropland in Liberia, 37% of the territory, only 6% is currently cultivated. The remaining cropland amounts to some 3 million hectares, which indicates that in addition to existing resources, there is a large potential for new crops including tree crops that could yield resources suitable for charcoal production.


Large-scale rubber plantations (>800 ha) in Liberia today cover an area of approximately 58,000 hectares, some of which are in close vicinity of Monrovia; more land used to be under rubber trees as well: NREL estimates about 100,000 ha in total. Buchanan Renewables indicated that the area currently under rubber trees (all types of plantations combined) would be more like 250,000 ha, of which possibly one-third should be renewed soon. There are also smaller rubber plantations (5-800 ha), but these are generally perceived to have newer trees on their estates. In addition, there are numerous household plantations below 5 ha each.


An active rubber plantation annually generates considerable amounts of wood residues from pruning and replanting activities, and charcoalers are known to use this for making charcoal. Trees need replacement after 25-30 years when these cease to be productive; approximately 81 dry tonnes of wood (trunks, branches) can be obtained per hectare of old trees (about 180 m3 of green wood).


Oil palm trees are abundant in the coastal regions, on family plots, in the wild, and on abandoned plantations (30,000 ha). Most trees are at the end of their productive life. It is unknown if old trees are converted into charcoal.
The average household farm is 1.2 ha, and 6% of the 353 thousand farms have coconut trees as a cash crop, 13% have oil palms, and 32% cacao trees. It is not known to what extent these trees contribute to charcoal production, but it is certain that it cannot be ignored.


Hydropower

Liberia has a rainy season between April and November, various rivers and a long sea coast. Yearly rainfall is around 510 cm (200 in) on the coast, 200 cm (80 in) inland. Average relative humidity is about 82% in the coastal area during the rainy season, and 78% to 50% in the dry season.


According to the Rural Energy Strategy and Masterplan, hydropower potential of 2 300 MW has been identified in Liberia. This potential is mainly on large rivers with high mean annual flow and low heads. Several locations have heads and flows above 50 m3/s, thus good for above 5 MW hydro schemes. However, the potential varies between rainy season and dry season.


Wind

The potential for wind energy in Liberia is estimated to be relatively low. Although there might be some potential in coastal and mountainous regions, probably not enough for commercial exploitation; if at all, few sites might have the required minimum wind speed of 7m/s for wind power turbans plants. In the 2015 SE4All Action Agenda Report, Wind Generation in Liberia is projected to reach 0.47GWh in 2025. There is no assessment for wind energy or any recommendation to use wind energy in the Liberia Rural Energy Strategy and Masterplan.  


Fossil Fuels

All fossil fuels consumed in Liberia are imported. Liberia has someffshore oil blocksfrom the continental shelf to water depths of 2500-4500 meters. The geology of the Liberian basin is complex, and finding oil will be extremely difficult and expensive. Since 2011, multinational oil companies have received licences for exploration activities.Anadarko Petroleum, African Petroleum, Chevron and ExxonMobil signed productions sharing contracts (PSC) with the Liberian government.  Some of these companies subsequently began exploratory drilling;10 wells have been drilled so far.


African Petroleum announced that it has discovered a total of 32 metres (105 feet) of net oil pay in two zones in Liberia. ExxonMobil finally began drilling on November 22, 2016. ExxonMobil found no oil and announced on December 19, 2016 that there is not enough oil in the well to get more than the money required to invest in extracting the oil from the well. However, there was enough evidence in the rock samples that were extracted from the seafloor to keep Exxon investigating other spots in the blockwith cheaper exploration tools rather than drilling which can cost as much as $1m a day.


A number of oil companies have relinquished oil blocks, including Anadarko, Repsol and Tullow and recently African Petroleum. Market challenges and lack of interest in the Liberian oil basin due to the history of no discoveries of oil in commercial quantities in the basin.

►Go to Top

Key Problems of the Energy Sector

In accordance to Power Africa, Liberia's energy sector's biggest issues and bottlenecks are as follows[1]:

  • Weak and under developed enabling environment 
  • Weak public utility that is not commercially viable, with high tariff and high commercial losses
  • Delayed expansion of transmission and distribution network to evacuate existing generation capacity 
  • Nascent off-grid sector


Energy for cooking from Biomass

Charcoal

According to the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), a total of 255 tons of commercial charcoal was consumed in 1999. The National Charcoal Union of Liberia (NACUL) estimated that charcoal consumption in Liberia went up to 36,500 tons in 2005 and that 960,000 trees were cut around Monrovia every year. Production and consumption increased further and reached at least 100.000 tones. Other sources estimate that production/consumption has already reached between 235’000 and 285’000 tons for the year 2010 with a per capita production/consumption of 59 kg per year.


Charcoal production and commercialization are entirely run by private operators and community-based organizations. There are no firm data on firewood consumption in Liberia, but findings from a survey conducted by CSET in 2004 indicate that scarcity of firewood could become a serious problem in some parts of Liberia, especially in Montserrado County.

Firewood

Annual consumption of firewood is estimated to be 1 m³ per person and year. In some rural areas it can go up to 18m3 per household. Forecast for the country estimates an annual increase in demand of about 0.6 m³ per household. Other estimates foresee an annual increase in demand of about 0,43 m³ per person. On the other hand, most rural household use firewood that is collected from their immediate surroundings, consisting mainly of dead wood, branches, etc.,


Although more households are using firewood than charcoal, the number of trees available is so large and the population density is relatively low so that it is reasonable to assume that the collection of firewood does not pose a problem in the short and medium run. The potential for serious environmental damage to wood resources as a result of charcoal production is more severe.

Improved cook stoves

Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking is limited to around 2% of the population (World Bank, 2014). Stoves using gas or electricity can be bought and used mainly in Monrovia.

Improved cook stoves for charcoals (“Red Fire Pots”) have been introduced by GIZ/EnDev and are locally produced and sold mainly in Monrovia. One retailer also imports improved cook stoves.


Electricity Situation

Electricity Supply

The installed generation capacity is 88MW hydroelectric facility Mount Coffee and 36MW Diesel facility on Bushrod Island, powering the main grid in Greater Monrovia operated by LEC. They had 22 MW of high speed diesel generation at the Bushrod Island facility, but most have been decommissioned, with only 5MW still operational, of which 2.5MW is available. Thus, in total LEC has 88MW of hydro, 38 HFO and 5MW LHO, bringing to a total 131 MW. A challenge is the insufficient transmission and distribution infrastructure, that is currently extended.


In Nimba, Grand Gedeh and Maryland counties electricity is imported from Cote d’Ivoire reaching 36,000 persons by the end of July 2017 and is still rising. This cross-border project has been supported by the EU.


A number of Government agencies, community organizations and private sector establishments in rural locations in several counties have been able to receive diesel generators, small hydropower or biomass plants and solar power systems through USAID, EU, the United Nations Development Programme, and some NGOs.


The number of households using solar PV systems in Liberia is not known, but remains small. Only one small wind turbine has been noticed in Monrovia. Currently, there are no data on the number of people using stand alone diesel plants in the country. With regard to electricity access by household, The Liberia Electricity Company (LEC) has some scattered data on the capitals of the counties. Due largely to expensive diesel production, Liberia had one of the highest public tariffs in the world (in October 2012 $0.52/kWh). Since the hydropower plant is operational, the tariff has dropped ($0.39/kWh  to $0.45/kWh in 2017) The cost of self-generation is estimated at not less than US $0.75/kWh.


Liberia has considerable potential for hydroelectric power. At the onset of civil war there were three operational hydroelectric power plants in Liberia: Harbel (Firestone), 4MW; Mount Coffee (LEC), 64MW; and Yandahun (a community micro hydro in Lofa County), 30KW. The Mount Coffee and Yandahun plants were destroyed during the war, and have been reconstructed recently with higher capacities, .


Mini-grids powered by renewable energies

The web portal www.renewables-liberia.info compiles, coordinates and updates information and knowledge about renewable energy activities in Liberia. The continuously updated overview  below is copied from www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/project-sector-strenthening/156-mini-grids-in-liberia.

Community

County

Technology

funder

implementer

operated by

capacity

start date

status

Yandohun hydropower mini-grid

Lofa

Hydro

World Bank

RREA

local cooperative

60KW

2013

operational

Electricity from rubber wood chips in Kwendin, Nimba (RREA)

Nimba

Biomass (wood)

USAID

NRICA

local cooperative

60KW

2016

operational

Palm oil generated electricity in Sorlumba, Lofa (USAID)

Lofa

Biomass (palm oil)

USAID

NRICA

local cooperative

25kw

2017

almost operational

Totota

Bong

solar/diesel

 

private operator

25KW

2016

operational, plans for extention

Hydropower/Diesel grid for Lofa (RREA, World Bank)

Lofa

hydro/diesel

World Bank

RREA

private operator

2.5MW

2019

planned

Langbemba

Lofa

solar

EU

PLAN & VOSIEDA

local cooperative

31.1KW

2017

Needs repair after fire

Taninahun

Lofa

solar

EU

PLAN & VOSIEDA

local cooperative

28.5KW

2017

Operational

Mamikonedu

Lofa

solar

EU

PLAN & VOSIEDA

local cooperative

25.5KW

2017

Operational

Koiyama

Lofa

solar

EU

PLAN & VOSIEDA

local cooperative

22.5KW

2017

Operational

Nyengbelahun

Lofa

 

EU

PLAN & VOSIEDA

local cooperative

??

2017

Operational

Gbarnway

Lofa

 

USAID

 

 

24KW

 

 


Electricity Consumption

 According to the World Fact book (CIA) electricity consumption is about 39 million kWh (2016 est.) Based on a 2014 household survey, only 4.5% of Liberians use Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC)power. 4.9% use a community generator, 4.4% have their own generator, 3.9% use vehicle batteries, and 0.8% use other sources of electricity. 81.3% have no access to electricity. LEC accounts for roughly 70 million kWh of ouput. (2016 est.)

9.1% of the population have access to electricity, 16.8% or urban population and 1.7% of rural population (World Bank, 2014)

The actual demand for Liberia, including the various concessions, is likely to be in excess of 350 MW by 2020, for the following reasons:

  • Liberia’s population has been growing at an average annual rate of 2.5%. Over 42 percent of the population is under 14 years of age. With a large pent-up demand for consumer goods and services as evidenced by previous levels of demand and rising incomes, demand for energy used in the production of these goods will increase as the population rises.
  • Since pre-conflict electricity capacity exceeded 400 MW, it seems likely that at some point the economy will begin to take off and very quickly reach previous levels of capacity. Industries which are large consumers of energy are only now looking at Liberia for opportunities to re-invest. Cement processing, rubber processing, breweries, and other factories and industrial operations have a huge demand for power. Prior to the civil conflict, the iron ore industry consumed about 210 MW of electricity. Although none of these former mines are currently in operation, the Government has prioritized their re-opening in the short to medium term, beginning with a recent concession agreement with ArcelorMittal for one of the former mines. The next two concessions for the Western Cluster iron ore deposits and the Old Bong Mines will be awarded soon. Furthermore, aggressive mineral exploration and resource appraisal programs for additional iron ore deposits are underway. The prospects for new hard rock mines for minerals such as gold, diamonds, uranium, and bauxite are very promising. The demand for energy for these operations in the medium and long term will be very significant, and without a strong Government energy policy, the requisite power to fuel these mining operations will not be developed.
  • The agriculture sector, although mostly artisanal at present, has a high demand for energy services. Agro-based concessions, such as rubber and other mechanized activities, produce electricity for their own consumption. Demand for energy in agriculture in the short, medium, and long term will be significant.

Almost 50% of Liberia’s population resides in rural areas, while most of the remaining live in and around the urban center of Monrovia. Rural households expend a significant amount of their meager incomes on inferior forms of energy such as candles, flashlights, and kerosene or oil lanterns for lighting. Higher fuel costs result from long transportation distances, fragmented delivery systems, and absence of economies of scale.

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Energy Policy, Strategy and Institutions

The Government of Liberia (GOL) is considering energy access to the population, particularly to the previously neglected rural poor a cornerstone of its policy. The following overview of policies, strategies, legal and institutional framework is taken with friendly permission from http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/home/liberia-s-energy-landscape.

 

Policies, strategies, commitments

The GoL published in 2007 a Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy and Action Plan. In the document the government outlines its policy to build and increase the application of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in Liberia by promoting investment, technology transfer, market development and local capacity building.


In 2009 a National Energy Policy Policy for Liberia (NEPL) aims to ensure universal access to modern energy services in an affordable, sustainable and environmentally-friendly manner in order to foster the economic, political, and social development of Liberia.  This is to be achieved by good governance and ensuring financial transparency in all sector transactions, overcoming the significant obstacles to private sector investment in energy supply; and creating the requisite institutional and legal framework and an independent regulatory regime.In addition, the GoL declares its intention to drive Liberia towards a carbon neutral economy by 2050.


Liberia has the Vision “Liberia RISING 2030” aiming for Liberia to become a Middle Income Country by the year 2030. This vision includes and proposes the targets of having 70% of Monrovia be connected to the electricity grid and 35% of the rural areas of Liberia connected to mini-grids/isolated, stand-alone units by 2030.


The Poverty Reduction Strategy and the follow-upAgenda for Transformation (the first five years on the road towards the Vision “Liberia Rising 2030”) strive to consolidate peace and security, revitalize the economy, strengthen governance and the rule of law; and rehabilitate infrastructure and delivering basic services.  The Agenda for Transformation (AfT) recognizes that investments in energy to unlock the urban and rural economies have the greatest return on investments and should be prioritized by expanding electricity access throughout the country.


Liberia is committed to making progress with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Energy for all (SE4ALL) Initiative, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The commitment of the government of Liberia to SE4ALL Action Agenda has been developed with the backdrop of the country’s overall development objectives of the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), the national Agenda for Transformation (AfT) objectives, the National Energy Policy of Liberia (NEPL) and achievement of the MDGs, SDGs and the SE4ALL objectives in Liberia


As a member state of ECOWAS, Liberia subscribed and participated in the adoption of the ECOWAS policies on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RE&EE) to be implemented at the national level.


In 2016, theRural Energy Strategy and Master Plan For Liberia (RESMP) was presented and published under http://liberiaruralenergy.org.  


Rural Energy Strategy and Master Plan

The Rural Energy Strategy and Master Plan (RESMP) aims to achieve the GoL’s rural electrification access rate of 35% by 2030, benefitting about 1.3 million people.


It includes targets for the period until 2030:

  • Electrification rate for the population outside of Monrovia of 10% in 2020, 20% in 2025 and 35% in 2030
  • All county capitals, health facilities and secondary schools electrified already before 2025
  • More than 75% of all electricity generated from renewables by 2030 with 19% coming from other than large hydro: Mini-hydro, Solar and Biomass.
  • Universal access to affordable solar lamps, efficient appliances and cook stoves.
  • electrification of at least 2,000 settlements with grid infrastructure connecting at least 50% of those settlement’s population by 2030.
  • the ten largest settlements in every county electrified with no county having less than 15% electrification rate by 2030.
  • a credit/subsidy mechanism for connection of poor and woman-led households through Rural Energy Fund, promoting active participation of women in the jobs that will be created for electrifying the country.

The RESMP covers 5 Programs, which consists of 21 Initiatives and 92 projects. For more information: http://liberiaruralenergy.org.  

 

Legal framework

The 2015 Electricity Law of Liberia


Liberian Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC), will be empowered to generate and distribute electricity within a prescribed service area. By law, this independent Regulator must be in place from October 23, 2017. However, it is not in place yet. Until the LERC is created, the licenses will be issued by the MLME.


A Mini-Grid Code for Liberia is in the process to be developed to define legal, technical, quality of service, safety and other conditions through which future service providers will be authorized to offer commercial energy services. This is to ensure that electric service offered by future service providers complies with international best practices.


The Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Law and NOCAL Act of 2014 was approved in 2016 and replaced the National Oil Law of 2000. Commercial and regulatory functions in the petroleum are separated into two institutions: Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) and National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL).  All petroleum contracts require competitive bidding. The law also outlines standards for royalties and other fees in production sharing contracts and requires companies to declare true owners and beneficial ownership disclosure.


Institutional Set Up

The Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (MLME), especially the Department of Energy (DoE), is responsible to plan, formulate and strengthen energy policies, regulatory & institutional frameworks and strateigies, to create a conducive environment for delivery of electricity and rural electrification.


The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), a utility financed by various multilateral and bilateral donor agencies, plans to broaden energy transmission and distribution to function through corridors surrounding Monrovia, over to Buchanan, Kakata and through the counties of Nimba, Maryland and Grand Gedeh.


The Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA), is an autonomous agency (reporting to the president) mandated to commercially develop and provide modern energy services to rural Liberia with emphasis on utilizing available local renewable energy resources. The RREA’s mandate includes integrating energy into rural development planning; promotion of renewable energy technologies; facilitating delivery of energy products and services; and facilitating the funding of rural energy projects including managing a Rural Energy Fund (REFUND) for sustainable energy services financing, coordinating domestic and international financial resources. REFUND is not yet in place.


The RREA also holds the Secretariat of the Rural Energy Working Group (REWG) that aims to monitor and coordinate activities towards rural electrification. The Steering Committee of the REWG started monthly meetings in October 2017 and includes the Secretariat (RREA), relevant GOL entities (MLME, LEC, MCC/MCA, RREA, EPA, MPW, MIA, etc.) and Development Partners (USAID, EU, WB, AfDB, SE/SIDA, MCA/MCC, GIZ/EnDev, etc.).


The West African Power Pool (WAPP), founded in 2000, is a cooperation of national electricity companies in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The aim is to establish a reliable power grid for the region and a common market for electricity. In Liberia, WAPP is involved in the cross-border electricity transmission from Cote d’Ivoire.


The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) grants Reconnaissance License, Petroleum Agreement and License for Petroleum Transportation System. 


The National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) administers and controls the rights, title, and interest in oil and gas deposits and reserves in the Liberian territory.


Internationally Funded Projects and Programmes

The web portal www.renewables-liberia.info compiles, coordinates and updates information and knowledge about renewable energy activities in Liberia. The continuously updated overview (copied below with friendly permission) and more detailed information of past and current development programs can be found at http://www.renewables-liberia.info/index.php/projects-new/programs.

Current programs or projects

Name

Key activities

Implementer

Region

Funded by

Duration

Regional Off-Grid Electrification Project (ROGEP)

TA for off-grid market; loans for electricity service providers; Support to electrify public institutions.

ECREEE   

19 countries: 15 West Africa, 4 Sahel

World Bank    

2017- 2022

LIRENAP

Hybrid hydropower and Diesel plant and grid in Lofa, Capacity Building; Market development of stand-alone solar systems

RREA

Lofa, nation-wide

Strategic Climate Fund Grant, Worldbank

28-Jan-2016 to 30-Jun-2021

EnDev Liberia

Strengthen Renewable Energy Sector, Promotion of solar technologies, Pico PV, cocoa solar dryers, improved cookstoves

GIZ/EnDev

Nation-wide

Netherlands, Germany, UK, Australia, Norway, Swizzerland

2012-2018

LUL

Curriculum Development, Market Facilitation, Financial service and Pico-grid installation

Mercy Corps

Margibi, Lofa, Nimba, Bong, Grand Bassa,  Rural Montserrado, Gbarpolu,

EU

March 2016-2019

LUOF

Solar electrifying five remote communities

PLAN International, VOSEIDA

Lofa    

EU    

2015-2017

Mt. Coffee Hydropower Plant

Rehabilitation of  hydropower plant (generating units, powerhouse, intake, dam and spillway) and reservoir, 132/66 kilovolt (kV) substation, two

132/66 kV transmission lines, expansion of receiving substations in Monrovia.

Manitoba Hydro International, Norplan Fichtner, Voith, Dawnus, Andritz, Ncc, Eltel, Psm Jv, Hydro Operation International

Montserrado

Norway (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Germany (KFW Development Bank, European Investment Bank), USA (Millenium Challenge Corporation), GoL

May 2012- Dec. 2017

Light Every Birth (We Care Solar & partners)

Solar suitcases for maternity wards

We Care Solar, UNICEF, GIZ/EnDev, Africare, PHIL

Nation-wide

UNDESA, UBS Optimus Foundation, Gilead Foundation and private donors

2016-18

Liberia Renewable Energy Project

9.34 MW mini-hydro power plant at Gbedin Falls

        

Nimba county

AfDB        

2018-

Concessions in South East

TA on how private sector can be attracted to 5 major settlements in S.E. First financial pre-feasibility study - Gbanga prioritised

TBD            

South East: Cestos city, Greenville, Barclayville, Harper, Pleebo, Fish town, Zwedru, Tappita, and Gbarnga

EU

ongoing

Power Africa - Beyond the Grid

Rehabilitation of Mt. Coffee hydroelectric plant, pilot projects, road rehabilitation

NRECA

 

USAID

2015-March 2018

Technical Assistance for reduction of maternal mortality in Liberia

Telemedicine support for midwives, trainings, solar installations, smartphones

Epos, MoH, GIZ/EnDev

Grand Gedeh

EU

2017

LEEAP

Constructing transmission and distribution lines, capacity building

LEC

Montserrado, Bomi, River Gee, Maryland

AfDB, TSF, NTF, EU, GEF, GoL

2017-2019     

Past development programs or projects

Name

Key activities

Implementer

Region

Funded by

Duration

The Lighting Lives in Liberia (LLL) Project

Solar electrifications,  elaboration of regulations, market support for stand-alone solar systems.

 

RREA

Nationwide

Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund Grant, World Bank.

2012-2017

Renewable Energy Sources to Rural Primary Health Care Facilities

204 health facilities in 15 counties received DC solar installations, 410 health facility staff were trained in maintenance of solar systems.

 

Merlin, Save the Children International- Liberia

Nation-wide

EU Energy Facility II and the Government of Liberia

 

 August 2011 – August 2014

Cross-border Supply of Electricity to Rural Communities in Liberia from Cote d'Ivoire

Facilitate the construction of cross-border (MV) interconnections from Cote d’Ivoire to 18 towns in Liberia, providing access to electricity for up to 130,000 persons

 West African Power Pool

 Grand Gedeh, Nimba, Maryland

 EU

 01-01-2008 to 05-12-2015

Developing a Rural Energy Strategy and Master Plan for Liberia

Support RREA, developinto a strong, independent, efficient, and sustainable organisation capable of achieving Liberia’s target of increasing access to modern energy services in the rural areas.

RREA

Monrovia, Lofa, general

EU

August 2011 to April 2016

Advancing Youth Project

Increased access to basic education, skills training for out-of-school youth, solar installations in 142 public schools

EDC

Montserrado, Margibi Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Bassa

USAID

2011-2016 

More about LESSP

Capacity building, four pilot projects electrifying rural communities with renewable energies (biomass, hydro, solar)

Winrock International received

Lofa, Nimba, Bong

USAID

2010-2014

 

Further Information

Options for the Development of Liberia’s Energy Sector (2012)


References

  1. ↑ Power Africa. (2018). Liberia Factsheet. Retrieved from: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/Liberia_-_November_2018_Country_Fact_Sheet.pdf


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