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Liberia has suspended import duties on some solar components in efforts to stimulate renewable energy development.

The Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) has issued an invitation for bids for the design, supply and installation of hydro-electro-mechanical equipment, 33kV evacuation line, substations and associated civil works for the 9.4MW Gbedin Falls hydroelectric plant

The government is continuing direct negotiations for 33 offshore blocks (LB-1 to LB-33) in the Harper and Liberia basins, in a process open until end-May.

The commercial use of thermolysis or pyrolysis to convert organic waste into biofuels, syngas or pure hydrogen is still experimental in Africa, although the underlying technology is relatively well-established elsewhere. Most of the 22 operating biogas power plants recorded in African Energy Live Data use other methods. Early adopters of the technology include the Ford Silverton plant in Pretoria, H2-Industries and Oak Group Holdings in Egypt, Ghana’s Kumasi Technical University and the British Nigerian Pyrogenesys-led consortium. Success for any one of them will open wide new commercial opportunities, while also helping to address pressing environmental concerns.

The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has asked US firms to submit proposals for a feasibility study for the 225kV Côte d’Ivoire-Liberia transmission interconnection reinforcement project. The agency has set a deadline of 26 January for submissions for the study into a 650km transmission line from San Pedro in Côte d’Ivoire to Buchanan in Liberia – plus associated substation and distribution equipment.

The World Bank Group (WBG) has predicted gross domestic product growth of 3.6% in Liberia this year, rising to an average of 5.2% in 2022-25, driven by an expected recovery in the mining sector and a rise in commodity prices.

The announcement that ArcelorMittal had finally agreed with President George Weah’s government to expand the Luxembourg-based steelmaker’s iron mining and logistics operations in Liberia was especially ill-timed for Conakry, coming days after Colonel Mamady Doumbouya’s coup d’état, which removed President Alpha Condé.

Construction at the 2.5MW Kaiha II hydroelectric power (HEP) plant began in July, Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) project deputy executive director Stephen Potter told African Energy. Construction of both the plant and its associated transmission and distribution infrastructure is due to be complete by July 2023.

Construction at the 2.5MW Kaiha II hydropower plant in Liberia got under way in July, project deputy executive director Stephen Potter of the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency tells African Energy Live Data.

Officially, Conakry and Monrovia are lined up to develop a new transport corridor that will bring iron ore from the Guinean north-east for export via a railway corridor to port facilities in Liberia. The governments have a transit agreement in place and are carrying on with what will be a major project for the cash-strapped states.

The World Bank Group (WBG) has released more details about the $64.2m first phase of its Liberia Electricity Sector Strengthening and Access Project. The WBG’s International Development Association is proposing a $44m loan and $15m grant for the project. Japan is funding $2.7m and a further $2.5m is expected from the Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme. Liberia’s government is aiming for universal access to electricity by 2030 through its National Electrification Strategy, which envisions the population being supplied by both on- and off-grid technologies.

The UK’S Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP), part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on 11 December announced that it had signed an agreement to invest £1m ($1.3m) of equity in renewable-powered battery rental company Mobile Power. The investment was part of a £2m series A funding round.

The United Kingdom’s Renewable Energy Performance Platform on 11 December announced that it had signed an agreement to invest £1m equity in renewable-powered battery rental company Mobile Power.

In its regular review of the Accelerated Electricity Expansion Project in Liberia, the World Bank Group (WBG) said the programme is on track to meet its target of 56,450 new connections by April 2022, with 33,018 already made. Work on the 66kV Paynesville-Kakata transmission line has been completed and the line was energised along with a 66/33kV substation at the end of March.

Off-grid solar company Easy Solar announced on 29 September that it has raised $3m through its series A equity round from impact investor Acumen and the Netherlands’ FMO, and $2m of debt through crowdfunding platform Trine. Easy Solar operates in Liberia and Sierra Leone. “Sierra Leone’s low electrification rates combined with limited alternatives for clean energy make Easy Solar’s business model highly relevant,” FMO venture programme manager Marieke Roestenberg said.