MONROVIA – Liberia’s Minister of Mines and Energy Gesler Murray, has disclosed that only five percent of Liberians have access to electricity in the country.
According to him, out of a total population of five 4.5 million people, only a minimum portion of the country’s population has access to electricity, while 95% others do not have.
He made these comments at a news conference held at the Ministry of Mines and Energy in Monrovia recently.
Minister Murray maintained that though access to stable and affordable electricity helps to alleviate poverty and promote economic activities, the percentage of supply to citizens and others remain very low.
“Electricity is regarded as a poverty alleviation and wealth creation facility. Notwithstanding, only about 5% of the entire country has access to electricity. That paradox has to change. In Monrovia and its environs, it’s about 10% access rate. We are working hard towards that. The CLSG, hopefully, will address that scenario,” he stated.
Efforts being applied
Minister Murray pointed out that despite the situation, the government is exerting efforts to attract more support to the energy sector of the country.
He noted that the government remains committed to help ensure the reduction in the high tariff on energy to be on par with other countries across the African continent.
“There are opportunities to invest in the Bea River; and we are trying to also, with the support of the World Bank to develop additional hydro systems along the St. Paul River and we wish to use the concession module to finance those projects,” he stated.
Minister Murray continued: “We want to see energy heavily-reduced perhaps to five cents or three cents like in the case of Ethiopia. We want to see wider distribution. That’s why we’ve made substantial progress in light to generation and transmission. Now, we are working very hard on our distribution infrastructure”.
CLSG 2020
According to the Mines and Energy Ministry boss, Liberians will significantly benefit from the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) project beginning in early 2020.
He disclosed that the initiative will immensely contribute to reduction in the present tariff being charged on electricity.
Presently, the tariff on public electricity in Liberia stands at 0.35cents per kw/hr. This remains one of the highest in the world.
Minister Murray admitted that the tariff on electricity is too ‘high’.
“Let me announce to this gathering that perhaps in the first or second quarter of 2020, you will have the CLSG transmission line coming to Liberia. CLSG means Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. This is an energy inter-connection that operates under the auspices of the West African Power Pool (WAPP),” he added.
“The tariff is very high-0.35cents per kilowatts/hour. We are very hopeful that with the coming of the CLSG, there will be a reduction in the tariff because the CLSG will sell to the LEC perhaps 12 cents per kilowatts/hour,” he maintained.
“Electricity is regarded as a poverty alleviation and wealth creation facility. Notwithstanding, only about 5% of the entire country has access to electricity. That paradox has to change. In Monrovia and its environs, it’s about 10% access rate. We are working hard towards that. The CLSG, hopefully, will address that scenario.”
Gesler Murray, Mines & Energy Minister
A Threat to The Energy Sector
Minister Murray observed that limited support continues to slow down efficiency and effectiveness in the energy sector.
He noted that adequate manpower to improve the sector is lacking.
Minister Murray disclosed that the numerous gaps now compelled the government to rely on external partners, including the European Investment Bank, German Investment Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), among others to move the energy sector forward.
“Until we develop our human capacity or manpower, we will still have to rely on external support. We do not have the financial resources and so we depend on our external financial partners that have the technical and financial warranties to invest. Our partners are assisting us very generously to build an efficient and sufficient energy sector,” he stated.
‘Our greatest threat today is lack of resources. We are severely under-resourced. So, our capacity to cover the entire length and breadth of this country is in serious drawback.
Collaboration to combat illicit activities
Speaking further, the Liberian Mines and Energy Minister called for collaboration with local county authorities to help combat against ‘dissident’ mining activities on the shores of Liberia.
“What we have done greatly is to disseminate the information and we expect cooperation with all of the local authorities; that is, the Superintendents, chiefs and elders. They should be the first watchdog to point out these so-called mining dissidents,” he averred.
According to him, most illicit miners are using chemicals and substances that pose a serious risk to the lives of residents in their areas of operations, and as such, county’s officials should cooperate with the Ministries of Mines and Energy, and Justice to ensure the arrest of these miners.
“We have requested all arresting authorities to arrest any illegal operators, manly those on our border waters or at the river banks dredging. They are destroying the banks because they are promoting erosion with the chemicals they used,” he noted.
“They also used mercury; mercury is a toxic substance. It enters your system and severely impacts both the male and female reproductive to the extent that offspring would be born with both physical and visual impairment. We are not making anybody afraid but this is the glaring reality. We have to stop,” Minister Murray maintained.
The lack of stable and affordable electricity in Liberia continues to immensely contribute to the downward trend of the country’s economy.
Numerous companies and businesses have either shut down or forced to mince their production or operations as a result of the circumstances.
Millions of dollars are spent on petroleum products including lubricants by these companies and business owners on a yearly basis.
As a result of the situation, the prices of goods produced or brought into the country by these companies, continue to skyrocket, something which imposes severe hardship on the already impoverished Liberian people.