The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has taken significant steps to address the critical power supply challenges faced during Liberia’s dry season by advancing discussions to import 50 MW of electricity from Ghana. At LEC’s request, key regional stakeholders involved in this potential transaction concluded a coordination meeting in the Ivorian capital, Abidjan, on Thursday, October 3, 2024. The crucial meeting was coordinated by TRANSCO CLSG, in collaboration with the World Bank and the West African Power Pool. Participants at the meeting included LEC, Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), Compagnie Ivoirienne d’Electricité (CIE), CI-ENERGIES (collectively referred to as the ‘Ivorian Party’), TRANSCO CLSG, the World Bank and the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP).
The facilitation meeting, chaired by the General Manager of TRANSCO CLSG, Mohammed M. Sherif, was organized to bring together all relevant stakeholders to operationalize the energy import transaction. In his opening remarks, Sherif expressed his gratitude to the participants for their commitment to consolidating regional integration and collaboration among the utilities of the West African Sub-region. He highlighted the pivotal role each party plays in the shared vision of a fully integrated and resilient energy network across West Africa. He also acknowledged the essential role of the World Bank, one of the primary financiers of the CLSG project, in laying the groundwork for secure and reliable regional energy trade.
The CEO of LEC, Monie R. Captan, delivered a statement expressing the critical importance of this meeting in addressing Liberia’s dry season supply shortfalls. He highlighted the transformational impact of the CLSG interconnection on LEC’s capacity to supply electricity to support Liberia’s development agenda and power trading within the ECOWAS sub-region. He extended deep appreciation to the Ivorian government and energy partners, CI-Energies and CIE, for their continuous support in supplying energy to Liberia. Captan explained the urgent need for LEC to secure alternative power sources to meet electricity demand in the upcoming dry season and hoped that discussions at the coordination meeting would crystalize into contracts for electricity imports from Ghana.
Speaking on behalf of WAPP, Electricity Market Expert, Chukwuemeka Chiatula, underscored the importance of the coordination meeting in structuring regional transactions to enhance cross-border energy trade. He emphasized the need for the outcome of the discussions to result in a comprehensive commercial framework that ensures consistent power wheeling, grid reliability, and economic development.
The World Bank, represented by Tu Chi, Senior Energy Economist, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to supporting ECOWAS countries in achieving efficient energy trade. The World Bank continues to provide technical and financial support to WAPP in developing a dynamic Regional Electricity Market.
By the conclusion of the meeting, all the parties confirmed their commitment to working with the LEC to ensure the successful supply and delivery of electricity through the GRIDCo, CIE, and TRANSCO CLSG’s high voltage transmission networks from Ghana to Liberia. Specifically, VRA and the three electricity transmission companies all affirmed their ability and readiness to supply and transmit electricity to Liberia. The Parties also agreed for WAPP and TRANSCO CLSG to coordinate further technical and commercial discussions necessary to finalize and operationalize the agreements.
LEC says it remains committed to ensuring reliable and affordable power supply for Liberia and will continue working closely with regional partners to secure sustainable solutions to address the country’s energy challenges.