By Anthony Q. Jiffan, Jr.
MONROVIA: The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) has issued a large composite micro utility license to a new energy group, Energicity Liberia.
Energicity Liberia Corp is an active minigrid developer and operator with 71 minigrids in operation across Sierra Leone and Benin.
The licensing is in compliance with Section 5.3, application for license for the 2015 electricity law if Liberia.
Giving the overview of the occasion Wednesday, July 17, 2024 in Congo Town, LERC Acting Managing Director, Abu B. Sanso said the action of the Commission is based on an application from Energicity Liberia to generate and distribute electricity in Western Liberia beginning with Gbarpolu County.
According to him, the action of the Commission is a testament to its ability, not only to attract private sector investment in the electricity sector by the creation of an enabling regulatory environment, but also to ensure that the government’s plans of providing electricity to citizens nationwide is achieved
For his part, Dr. Lawrence D. Sekajipo, Chairman of LERC’s Board of Commissioners who presented the certificate said the action of licensing was in line with the 2015 Electricity Law of Liberia, adding, “this License is issued to Energicity Liberia, a business registered under the laws of the Republic of Liberia”.
Energicity will generate, distribute and sell electricity to customers within Gbarpolu County (Totoquolle, Henry Town, Farwanta, Gbana, Zuo, Yagaryah, Takpoima, Smith Camp and Wesua) in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the License.
Dr. Sekajipo indicated that the License is valid for a period of 25 years, beginning from July 17, 2024 the day on which it was issued up to July 16, 2049.
Responding on behalf of Energicity, Neema Kezilahabi, the company’s Regional Director of Construction and Project Management said the license would enable the company to add 10 sites in Gbarpolu County to the portfolio, ranging in size from 26.88 kW in Totokolle to 750 kW for Bopolu City, the county capital.
She noted that the license will enable over 1MW of initial solar development and approximately $4 million in investment which the company has already started building.
Madam Kezilahabi also indicated that the company has planned to commission its first projects this year and complete all 10 sites in the first half of 2026.
She expressed the entity excitement to get licensed, something she termed a milestone achievement for the company and will see the connection of up to 40,000 Liberians to grid-scale electricity for the first time.
The Energicity Liberia Regional Director averred that with electricity, families, businesses, and communities will have access to opportunities such as lighting up schools, powering healthcare facilities, internet access and creating job opportunities for the communities, ensuring that projects benefit the local economy and provide skill.
She noted that the company appreciates the support of a number of other agencies, 24mm f/1.89 1/33s ISO4207 including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Rural Renewable Energy Agency.
“Lastly, and most importantly for this occasion, we are grateful for the unflagging support of the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission,” Madam Kezilahabi noted. “We look forward to our continued partnership.”
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