As the Liberian Government And European Union Break Ground For The Construction Of New Electricity Substation – 38 Thousand Households To Be Connected
Thousands of homes and businesses in Monrovia will soon begin benefiting from electricity power supply, as a new electricity expansion project has been lunched to construct an electricity substation on the Old Road in Monrovia. The European Union and the Liberia Government are working together to provide citizens with safe, accessible and cost-efficient energy supply through the “Monrovia Consolidation of Electricity Transmission and Distribution Project”.
The Government of Liberia and the European Union on Friday June 21, 2019 launched the construction of a new electricity substation, control and switchgears rooms for the enhancement of electricity supply by the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) as part of a Euro 37.4 million (US$ 42.5 million) support by the European Union (EU) to address the increasing demand for electricity in Monrovia.
The construction of the new LEC substation and the switchgears on the Old Road and additional three substations along the Old Road Congo Town belt will connect approximately thirty-eight (38) thousand households in Monrovia and its environs to the LEC power supply through an increased quantity and cost-efficient energy that will be generated by the Mount Coffee Hydro Plant.
Communities expected to be connected by this new distribution network include: The Peace Island Area, TB Annex (Congo Town Back Road to ELWA Junction), GSA Road, Zubah Town, Rehab Road, Around SKD Sports Complex and LBS, Rock Crusher, behind the German Embassy in Congo Town as well as other areas.
More than two thousand one hundred (2,100) additional streetlights will be installed within the greater Monrovia Area under the Project.
”The European Union believes that development in the electricity sector must be sustainable by involving and attracting private sector investment. In order to attract the private sector, a stable and well-regulated environment in the energy sector is a precondition,” said Mr. Juan Antonio FRUTOS GOLDARATZ, Chargé d’affaires, European Union Delegation to Liberia
The EU in collaboration with Millennium Challenge Account is supporting with Technical Assistance the newly established Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission.
“The administration of His Excellency, Dr. George Manneh Weah understands that electricity is an absolute necessity for any society. As the Government of Liberia through the services of MBH Power Limited commences the construction phase of the transmission and distribution component of the Monrovia Consolidation project, the Government remains committed to her contribution and she will continue to work with the European Union and other International Partners within the energy sector. The Government also strongly believes that electricity is an integral component for fostering its Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development,” Finance and Development Planning Minister, Samuel D. Tweah has reiterated.
Background:
The “Monrovia Consolidation of Electricity Transmissions and Distributions Project” is funded under the 11th EDF and has a duration of 24 months. A similar project was implemented under the 9th EDF for the electricity grids. Under the two programs, the EU has earmarked and invested substantially in the electricity power/energy sector with a total budget of approximately 100 Million Euros in Liberia.
In 2018, the Liberian Government signed a “Transmission and Distribution” contract together with the Delegation of the European Union to Liberia, MBH Power Limited and Intec Gopa to design and build 66KV Over Head Lines and extension of existing 66/22/10KV power that will help Monrovia to absorb more electricity from the Mount Coffee Hydro Plant to be transmitted to substations on Bushrod Island, New Kru Town, Capitol Hill, Congo Town and Paynesville.
The contracts which are composed of two lots, commenced in December 2018. The project is implemented by MBH Power Limited and is supervised by Intec Gopa. In collaboration with the EU, the National Authorizing Office (NAO) Unit of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning is monitoring the two-year project as part of its mandate to manage, coordinate, program and oversee the EU funded projects in Liberia.
The European Development Fund:
The EU is one of the biggest donors in Liberia and its concrete interventions and financial support under the EDF are being carried out across various sectors, i.e. health, infrastructure, social policies and governance.
Created in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome and launched in 1959, the European Development Fund (EDF) is the EU’s main instrument for providing development aid to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and to overseas countries and territories (OCTs). The EDF funds cooperation activities in the fields of economic development, social and human development as well as regional cooperation and integration.
Press Contacts:
Bernard Abraham Waritay: 0886-518-209 / 077-505-9916,
E-mail: abwaritay@mfdp.gov.lr / www.nao.gov.lr
Winston P. Daryoue: 077-773-1764 / 077-016-3252
E-mail: winston.daryoue@eeas.europa.eu / https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/liberia
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