Access to public electricity in Liberia is with less than 10% among the lowest in the world. The reach of the national grids is very limited. Self-generated electricity from gasoline or diesel generators is used by 10% of urban and less than 2% of rural residents. More common are low-quality energy forms like candles and flashlights.
More than 95% of people in Liberia rely on firewood and charcoal to cook; in urban populations (85% of which are in Monrovia) 70% of people use charcoal for cooking versus 5% of those in rural areas.
There is a huge potential for renewable energies in Liberia. Few projects and activities have started and more are planned. Find out more under activities and news.
Study for an overview of the Liberian Energy sector.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), 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.
Liberian Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC), with commissioners appointed by the president, has just been established to set-up regulations for mini-grids and give out licences to electricity providers to generate and distribute electricity within a prescribed service area.
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.
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 from 2008 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. 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.
The Government, through the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (MLME) adopted its energy strategy and relevant targets (access, capacity, generation, energy security) in the National Energy Policy for Liberia (NEPL) in May 2009. The principal objective of the National Energy Policy is 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.
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) in 2013 to be implemented at the national level.
In 2016, the Rural Energy Strategy and Master Plan For Liberia (RESMP) was presented and published under http://liberiaruralenergy.org. the 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:
The RESMP covers 5 Programs, which consists of 21 Initiatives and 92 projects.
The 2015 Electricity Law of Liberia establishes the legal basis for public and private electricity service providers to offer commercial electric service in Liberia, using grid expansion and offering off-grid service to rural and remote communities. This legal framework enables legal incorporation of entities which, with a license issued by the Liberian Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC), will be empowered to generate and distribute electricity within a prescribed service area. By law, this independent Regulator should have been in place from October 23, 2017. However, the establishment had been delayed, now it is established and just started to function.
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 market for renewable energy products and services in Liberia is still very small. Few small businesses establish themselves as solar installers or to sell solar products or improved cook stoves. Many of them can be found in the stakeholder directory. Some have started to organize within the Liberia Energy Access Practioner (LEAP) Network.
Several international donors and international organisations are involved in strengthening the renewable energy situation in Liberia, collaborating with public and/or private sector and/or local NGOs. Most of them can be found in the stakeholder directory.
The RREA 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.).
Once a month, private and public sector and some international and national organisations meet in the Integrated Forum for Renewable Energy in Liberia. This meeting allows for updates, anouncements, questions and answers and content production for this www.renewables-Liberia.info web portal and its associated social media.
Renewable Energy Situation
This web portal provides in depth information about renewable energies in Liberia, including potential, programs, activities and news. The various energy forms and their use in Liberia on the solar, hydropower, biomass and windpower are in the technology section. An overview of current development programs from different donors as well as descriptions of specific activities can be found under activities.
There is a growing number of mini-grids based on renewable energies. Various maps show the locations of solar installations or other renewable energy projects.
Last Updated: November 2018
Renewables Liberia is primarily supported by GIZ/EnDev, the Rural Renewable Energy Agency, the Ministry of Mines & Energy of Liberia and Mercy Corps. You learn more about each entity below.
The Energizing Development Program (EnDev) is an Energy Access Partnership commissioned by the German International Development Cooperation (GIZ) and financed by seven donor countries. EnDev operates in 26 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America with the main objective to improve the access to sustainable, affordable energy for everybody.
EnDev Liberia started its work in 2012 and collaborates with RREA and other partners on building structures for renewable energy markets in Liberia. This includes supporting solar installations for social institutions (schools, health facilities), promoting improved cooking technologies as well as strengthening the markets for pico PV products and cocoa solar dryers. EnDev hosts trainings and feasibility studies, assists with solar installations and collaborates in marketing and sales efforts for energy products.
You can find out more about EnDev on its stakeholder page here.
Rural & Renewable Energy Agency (RREA)
In January 2010, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf issued Executive Order No. 23 establishing Liberia’s Rural & Renewable Energy Agency (RREA), and the Rural Energy Fund (REFUND), to bring modern energy services to Liberia’s rural areas. With the help of the REFUND, which is now being physically set up, the RREA will administer electrification to rural areas through renewable and least-cost energy technologies and resources, including micro-hydro power plants, small biomass power plants, solar photovoltaic applications, and other mini-grid and stand-alone systems.
Beginning May 2010, a number of pilot activities have been launched, including the bidding for a micro-hydro power plant development for Lofa County and solar applications for some of the larger rural towns elsewhere in Liberia. The RREA will work with communities to discuss their needs and opportunities for such projects. The RREA will also work closely with Liberia’s private sector and community developers to investigate how these entities can be encouraged to bring electricity to rural areas. In addition to training and outreach, the RREA is expected to provide financial support such as grants, subsidies and loan guarantees to rural communities and the private sector. In 2015 the RREA developed a Master plan to achieve a 35% electrification target by 2030. You can find out more about the Master Plan here
You can find out more about RREA on its stakeholder page here.
Ministry of Mines & Energy of Liberia (MME)
The Ministry of Mines & Energy (MME) was established by a legislative act to administer all activities relative to mineral, water and energy resource exploration, coordination and development in the Republic of Liberia.
In adherence to its statutory mandate, the Ministry formulates and implements policies and regulations in collaboration with other sector related agencies for the delivery of efficient services to the public from the mineral, water and energy sectors. In addition, MME supports the mineral industry by providing it with valuable information about Liberia’s geology. It also delivers and administers Liberia's Mining Act to improve the investment climate for mineral development.
You can find out more about the MME on its stakeholder page here.
Mercy Corps is an international development organization that works in almost 50 countries worldwide. Founded more than three decades ago, Mercy Corps has helped people around the world survive from the toughest of hardship with interventions turning crises situations into opportunities.
Mercy Corps has a mission to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build just, secure and productive communities. The organization supports post-Ebola economic recovery, lifts families out of poverty and drives transformative social change. It also improves public health and hygiene, empowers youth and strengthens livelihoods of families in rural, impoverished areas.
You can find out more about Mercy Corps on its stakeholder page here.
Renewables Liberia (RL) is an online destination for news, data and relevant contacts in the renewable energy sector in Liberia. Launched in 2017, RL was founded to provide those interested in renewable energy in Liberia a space to network, share developments and examine impact in the field.
Supported by various stakeholders, RL is spearheaded by the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency-Liberia and Energising Development (EnDev), an energy access partnership funded by the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Sweden.
All stakeholders of renewable energies in Liberia are invited to present themselves and their activities and contribute current relevant information.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Twitter: @RenewLiberia
Facebook: @renewliberia
A partner website was created for the renewable energy sector in Sierra Leone Renewables Salone Website
Energy consumption in Liberia is dominated by biomass with a share of more than 90% of the used primary energy sources. Over 95% of the population depends on firewood and charcoal for cooking needs. Approximately 70% of the urban population (85% in Monrovia) use charcoal for cooking, 95% of the rural population uses firewood.
The use of modern energy services such as electricity, and liquefied petroleum gas for lighting, cooking, and entertainment is limited to very few higher income households in urban areas. 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 less than 1%.
For more information see energypedia.
The government is committed towards increasing energy access, especially by using renewable energies. This is reflected in the national vision, strategies and legal frameworks.
The governmental organisation RREA (Rural Renewable Energy Agency) was created to promote and coordinate these efforts. Other national and international institutions and organisations (who is who) work in the same direction with various projects.
To better understand the Liberian situation, the Renewable Maps summarize solar installations.
