Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – President Joseph Boakai has revealed Liberia’s potential to become a key player in Africa’s energy transformation, citing the country’s abundant natural water resources as a cornerstone for achieving energy sufficiency.
By: J.H. Webster Clayeh [email protected]
Speaking at the Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Boakai shared the country’s commitment to contributing to the ambitious Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million people across Africa by 2030.
Launched in April 2024 by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank Group, Mission 300 is designed to catalyze transformative progress in energy access, aligning with Africa’s broader sustainable development goals.
During a panel discussion at the summit, President Boakai emphasized Liberia’s capacity to harness its vast water resources to address the continent’s energy challenges.
“Liberia is well-watered,” he stated, noting that the country is home to one of the largest rivers in the region. “Hydropower is a great potential for us, and we are fully committed to it. Liberia is moving towards energy sufficiency because we recognize that energy is critical to development.”
Boakai highlighted the importance of universal energy access for the prosperity of Liberia and the broader region. He also referenced his government’s ongoing efforts to electrify 100,000 households annually, as part of Liberia’s national energy compact.
“Energy is a critical part of our agenda for growth,” he affirmed. “We have 46 percent of West Africa’s forests intact, so we have the opportunity to improve our electricity supply without harming the environment.”
Pursuing Strategic Partnerships
As Liberia seeks to enhance its energy infrastructure, President Boakai underscored the importance of building partnerships to accelerate the country’s energy development.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to collaborating with private sector partners to improve electricity access, which he called central to Liberia’s national development strategy.
“We’ve been working with private partners to advance our energy goals,” he said. “We believe these partnerships will enable us to meet our energy needs while improving agriculture, education, and healthcare. Electricity is the foundation of all progress.”
He also expressed optimism that the Energy Summit would connect Liberia with potential investors to help develop the country’s energy sector. “This forum will expose us to key investors, and I invite them to partner with us in developing our energy system.”
Solar Panel Projects and Future Goals
President Boakai also shared updates on Liberia’s solar energy initiatives, emphasizing the government’s commitment to reducing the 65 percent of the population that remains without access to electricity. “We recently launched a solar panel project worth $20 million,” he noted. “Currently, 33 percent of our population has access to electricity, and we aim to improve that by harnessing our water resources and expanding solar energy.”
He stressed the positive impact that improved energy access would have, particularly for women. “Energy access will alleviate the burden on women, enabling them to focus on education, work, and other responsibilities,” Boakai said. “It will allow them to save time and contribute more to the development of their families and communities.”
Support Independent Journalism
Your support helps FrontPage Africa continue delivering independent, credible, and impactful journalism. Every contribution strengthens our ability to investigate, inform, and hold power accountable while keeping quality journalism accessible to our readers.
Support our journalism or subscribe to receive the latest FrontPage Africa stories and updates.
