The Global Environment Facility has completed the approval process for a project to install and showcase the benefits of mini hydro power plants in Liberia, improving energy access and irrigation as well as saving energy costs.
10 April 2012: The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) has completed the approval process for a US$1.8 million project to install multi-purpose mini-hydro infrastructure for energy and irrigation purposes in Liberia.
The main objective of the project is to boost the market environment for mini-hydro infrastructure energy systems in rural Liberia. The project addresses all development, construction and policy aspects of the installation of the new hydropower system. After developing an institutional capacity, the project will commence with the installation and commissioning of a ‘run of the river’ hydropower station with a capacity of 1MW at Mein River in Bong County and use the process for learning by doing and building local capacity, reaching an estimated 30 percent of households in the town of Suakoko (350 households) and 15% in the rural areas of Suakoko district (about 1800 households), reducing energy poverty in the area. The project will supply energy to local buildings and also serve to train local agencies for repair and maintenance of the mini hydropower and local distribution grid. Furthermore, the project will seek long-term results through the creation of an enabling policy and regulatory framework for the mini-hydro sector. [Project documents]