Monrovia – The Liberia Energy Access Practitioner Network known as LEAP Network over the weekend made a groundbreaking record for the first time in the country’s history by officially launching electric vehicles.
Experts say the launch is a significant milestone towards transforming the transport sector to zero emission vehicles.
Speaking at the event held at the Monrovia City Hall on Friday, the President of the LEAP Network Mr. Royston Gbelia described the initiative as a major achievement for Liberia, “the first of its kind to have zero emission vehicles in the country. Liberia can’t be the last country to start new technology like the electric vehicles.”
Mr. Gbelia expressed delight for Liberia, a least developed country to join big nations in using electric vehicles, “we have finally launched electric vehicles, as the saying goes; better is later than never,” while acknowledging government’s support towards such endeavor.
The LEAP Network President emphasized that although the Network and Partners are launching the electric vehicle in Liberia, the ultimate objective is to develop policy to govern the new sector.
Mr. Royston Gbelia revealed that “for now, there is no policy, so most of these stakeholders that are bringing in those electric vehicles, they are running on a pilot.” He said “these pilots will be used to collect data and the data will be given to the Ministry of Transport for the development of policy to guard the sector.”
Commenting on the types of electric vehicles in Liberia, Mr. Gbelia said as you can see, we have cars, we have kekeh and the motorbikes, all of them are electric, no gasoline, no noise, no worry about maintenance, it can be with solar and the national grid as well.”
Launching the electric vehicles, the Deputy Minister for Land and Rail Transport at the Ministry of Transport Rudolph G. Natt Jr. said the government is pleased with the initiative and expressed the hope of it mitigating some of the challenges in the transport sector. “There is a deficit in the transport sector in terms of meeting the needs of the people. We don’t have too many private transport entities, so those kinds of things will suppress transport fares.”
Deputy Minister Natt also warned operators engaging into electric vehicles to be in good standing with the Ministry of Transport, “companies should obtain their eligibility certificate before they can operate, the Ministry will have to send out inspector and there are regulations you need to be in conformative before operation.”
The launch of the electric vehicles was held at the end of a two day engagement on Leapfrogging to E-Mobility Acceleration Project being initiated by the Liberia Energy Access Practitioners Network, the umbrella organization for renewable energy companies in Liberia.
The engagement was held under theme: Promoting Sustainable Urban Mobility and Zero Emission Vehicles Adoption in Liberia.
Speaking at day one Thursday June 6, 2024 of the program, The Director of Climate Change and Environment at Ministry of Transport Spencer S. Taylor, Jr. termed as a game-changer for the transport’s sector the adoption of said policy.
According to Taylor, Jr. such policy will pave the way for the introduction of electric vehicles, promoting cleaner air, reducing noise pollution, and creating new economic opportunities in the Country.
He lamented that the policy will be a major leap forward in Liberia’s journey towards a fossil-free, sustainable, and environmentally friendly system. “The current National Transport Policy Strategy and National Transport Master Plan are limited on reducing emissions and achieving environmental sustainability through the adoption of sustainable transport technologies and solutions like electric vehicles.’’
Director of Climate Change and Environment at Ministry of Transport expressed gratitude to the LEAP Network for their partnership in such direction while pledging the Ministry’s commitment in making the vision a reality.
For his part, the Vice President for the Liberia Energy Access Practitioners LEAP-Network Mr. Karrus Hayes emphasized the need for urgent transition towards cleaner energy sources for transportation.
Mr. Hayes said cleaner energy sources will to mitigate the impact of climate change on Liberia and improves air quality.
He urged shareholders of the sector to be committed and make input on the leapfrogging e-mobility project for zero emission vehicles.
The LEAP Network Vice President used the occasion to thank the Rocketfeller Foundation in the U.S, the Ministry of Transport, the Rural Renewable Energy Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the United Nations Environment Program for their support.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency said with the launch of the E-mobility policy, Liberia is on the right trajectory of its targets of the National Determined Contribution, the NDC.
EPA-NDC Coordinator John Forkpa Kannah said the Ministry of Transport a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 15.1 percent as of 2030 and as such the zero emission vehicles are a clean path to the attainment of such goal.
Forkpa Kannah urged the LEAP Network and its partners to reference the National Climate Change and Response Strategy in the development of the e-mobility policy.
In remarks Ministry of Mines and Energy Assistant Director for Energy Efficiency and Environment Kelvin Grugbaye heighted sustainability as one of the major issues that requires more attention as the country is transitioning to E-mobility.
“As requisite authority in charge of the energy sector, we do not only see this day as a transition in the Transport sector, but we also see it as a shift in our policy landscape when it comes to the overall energy policy of our Country which requires more inclusive policy and diversifying our energy sources in order to sustain every aspect of our country’s economy”, he said.
