IPNEWS: Today, the Government of Liberia (GoL) and the European Union (EU) commissioned the newly constructed and fully operational Congo Town Electricity Substation, which will enable the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) to address the increasing electricity demand in Monrovia.

The new Congo Town substation on the Old Road is one of the four substations around Monrovia financed by the EU allowing LEC to provide electricity to approximately 41,000 households.

During the commissioning ceremony, Ambassador Delahousse said: “the European Union believes that the expansion of the electricity sector must be affordable, and that a solid private sector intervention is necessary”.

Here are the complete remarks of Ambassador Delahousse:

Congo Town Substation Commissioning event

Remarks from Ambassador Laurent Delahousse,
Head of Delegation of the European Union to Liberia
Monrovia 16 August 2022

Your Excellency Dr George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia,
The Honorable Minister of Finance and Development Planning,
The Honorable Minister of Mines and Energy,
Members of Congress, Representatives of the Government of Liberia and other Ministers here present,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends,

All protocols observed.

It is an honour and a privilege for me to take part in the ceremony of the official commissioning of this newly re-built Congo Town substation, which is an important part of the network to connect 41.000 households in Monrovia.

I want to thank the Government for facilitating the construction of this infrastructure. I thank the Contractor, the Supervisor and his Representative, the LEC, our Technical staff for rigorously monitoring the works and ensuring that, as Monie Captan just said, we settle for nothing but premium, world-level quality.

All the citizens of Monrovia who have been waiting to receive electricity can now steadily see their communities being legally connected to the electrical grid. But let me be clear : illegal connections are unjustifiable: stealing electricity is an offence punishable by law. It is also putting in danger the lives of many, with the risk of explosions and fires. Do you know that in some communities, LEC teams are attacked by people who steal power ! It is essential that Government provides even more support to LEC to fight power theft.

The Government has called for all development projects to put an emphasis on training and technical education. This project, as we have seen, has already funded a traineeship for more than 40 young engineers, men and women, working with the contractor on a daily basis. Many of them have already secured employment after their traineeship.

With the extension of the electricity grid, there is a need for more electricians in the country, and to cover this, the European Union is funding TVET schools in each of the 15 counties of Liberia which will deliver the required skills.

Your Excellency,

The Monrovia Consolidation project, with a budget of around 60 million US dollars, is only one of the many interventions of the European Union in the electricity sector in Liberia.

As you already know, the EU, together with the European Investment Bank and its Member States, contributed substantially to the rehabilitation of the Mount Coffee hydropower plant.

In addition, the European Union is working on the Rural Electrification of the South East of Liberia, with a project of around 50 million US dollars. This programme will extend electricity to Buchanan, Greenville and Barclayville.

The European Union believes that the expansion of the electricity sector must be affordable, and that a solid private sector intervention is necessary. Since a stable and well-regulated environment in the energy sector is a precondition to attract the private sector, the European Union is also funding technical assistance to support the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Mines and Energy.

Let’s not forget that the European Union funded, via the European Investment Bank, a major part of the 1350 km Transco-CLSG transmission power line. Linking Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, this line brings the integration of high-quality electricity networks in the region. And Buchanan will be connected through this line.

Your Excellency,

With your Government and the support of the international community, you have taken the necessary decisions to fix the electricity sector, as recalled just now by the Chairman of LEC.

Last week, I was at the launch of the Digitalization of the Port of Monrovia, together with many Ministers here present. The event was attended by pretty much all the stakeholders in the Liberian economy: the private sector, Government, development partners. This important reform of Port procedures was made possible by the exceptional leadership of the heads of APM Terminals and the Liberian Revenue Authority, Jonathan Graham and Commissioner General Thomas Doe Nah. It will bring swifter and cheaper procedures for the users of the Port and better revenue for the Government. And it shows that change is at hand, that progress is possible, that together, we can do better for the economy and for the people of Liberia.

Under your leadership, Mister President, the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development is the best development strategy for Liberia and the right framework for Liberia’s many dedicated and motivated development partners to set their actions. I commend the action of the Minister of Finance and Development Planning to develop and implement a new era of dialogue and coordination with development partners. The European Union is an enthusiastic actor in this process, it is at the side of the Government to implement the policies set in the PAPD.

And the EU is at the side of the people of Liberia to ensure that these policies reach their goals and that the considerable funds concerned are properly utilised and not diverted for personal gain by unscrupulous individuals, as pointed out yesterday by my friend the American Ambassador Michael McCarthy.

I have faith that the Government of Liberia, under your leadership, Mister President, is making the best moves in this regard.

Your Excellency,

To conclude, I want to reaffirm the pledge I made last year in Peace Island with you: the EU is here to deliver to the people of Liberia, with the Government of Liberia, the policies set in the PAPD. With Monrovia Consolidation, we deliver power to the people because it brings power for the people.

I thank you./.