The Government of Liberia (GOL), with funding from the World Bank West Region Office, is expected to construct its first solar farm and expand the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant from 88mw to 126mw.
Speaking in an interview Saturday, March 23, 2024 following the climax of assessment at the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant dam and location for the country’s first solar farm by the World Bank delegation, Philip Fairley, Corporate Communication Director of the Liberia Electricity Corporation, said that the amount projected for both projects is US$96 million.
“The Mount Coffee expansion project is US$96 million,and it goes for both the expansion of the Mount Coffee and the Solar Energy Farm Project. A couple of the funding goes to the expansion of Mount Coffee from 88mw to 126mw. The Solar Farm, when constructed, will produce 20mw, while the St. Paul hydropower dam (SP2) will produce about 200—250mw,” he stated.
According to him, the blueprint and the design for the construction of Liberia’s first solar farm has commenced, and anytime soon the project will kickstart, adding that the Mount Coffee expansion and the Solar Farm Project will be situated at the same site.
“You were there and you saw that the World Bank,through its delegation, has commenced the feasibility studies, having concluded with our CEO on the implementation and further studies as well regarding the project. The touring of the facility and identification of location for the farm technically means work and studies have started,” Fairley pointed out.
He added that the assessment will lead to the blueprint,which will finalize the work of the solar plant and the expansion of the Mount Coffee and the blueprint for SP2.
Fairley pointed out that LEC has an energy demand of 400 megawatts and, technically, if 126mw and the expansion project of Mount Coffee are completed the 20mw solar farm project in addition to the 250mw of SP2 Liberia will at that time enjoy sustainable electricity across the country.
He spoke of their anticipation that all of the projects will be successful, while urging Liberians to be patient and calm on ground that they are working to address age-old problems.
A high-power delegation from the World Bank West Region Office and the Ministry of Mines and Energy over the weekend visited the Liberia Electricity Corporation Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant.
The objective of the delegation’s visit to the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant was to gather first-hand information and assessment on the exact location for the construction of the Solar Farm and the expansion of the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant.
Franz Drees-Gross, a US and German citizen, serves as Director of Infrastructure in the World Bank’s Africa West Region, headed the team, and Monie Captain, Executive Director of LEC, headed the PIU. The Ministry of Mines and Energy represented the Government of Liberia (GOL) and Bill Harkins, Project Manager and William Thompson, Project Engagement Consultant.
The objective of the delegation’s visit was to see the exact location of the project and have joint inhouse engagement and briefing on the construction of the Solar Farm and the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant expansion.
The joint assessment was in consonance with President Boakai’s first Energy Sector Roundtable at the Executive Mansion along with key stakeholders in the sector, where he gave 100% support to the project.
This interaction with the LEC management and visitation of the site, couple with the technical brief of the project, are part of the initiative feasibility studies which indicates that work has already commenced.
