Construction is underway on Liberia’s first utility-scale solar power plant.
The 20 MW plant will be built in Harrisburg, a district in the province of Montserrado, on the site of the 88 MW Mount Coffee Hydropower Station. Local press reports indicate the project has a planned completion date of August 2025.
It is the first of a number of planned solar and hydropower projects aimed at strengthening Liberia’s energy capacity, according to a statement from the Liberian government.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. attended the groundbreaking ceremony. He said the solar project would help address power shortages in Liberia, especially during the dry season when water levels drop and hydroelectric power generation declines.
The World Bank has committed grant financing for the project under its Regional Emergency Solar Power Intervention Project. During the ceremony, the President also thanked the African Development Bank, the European Union, the European Investment Bank, the US Government, the Japanese Government, the German State Development Bank KfW and the West African Power Pool for their support and contributions.
“The government cannot do this alone,” he said. “We will need the cooperation of our development partners and the active involvement of the private sector, including Liberian businesses.”
According to figures from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Liberia had installed 3 MW of solar power by the end of 2023.
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