The president’s visit to the Cote d’Ivoire comes amid controversy surrounding the resurfacing of a proposal which drew strong condemnation on the George Weah-led government, from international stakeholders investing millions in the quest for stable electricity for Liberia.
ABIDJAN – Liberia is going through a recurrent energy crisis due to the shortfall in the delivery of stable electricity to the public, and it appears President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is keen to address the challenge. This was evidenced during his recent high-level working visit to Abidjan, La Cote d’Ivoire. During his engagement with host President Alassane Ouattara, on Thursday, March 7, 2024, the Liberian Leader stressed that the strategic priority of his government is to ensure increased access and the expansion of stable electricity to the Liberia people. Sidiki Trawally reports.
The president’s visit to the Cote d’Ivoire comes amid controversy surrounding the resurfacing of a proposal which drew strong condemnation on the George Weah-led government, from international stakeholders investing millions in the quest for stable electricity for Liberia.
FrontPageAfrica reported last week that the Turkish Karpowership group recently submitted a proposal and prevailing on the Boakai administration to have the ship brought to Liberia in hopes of easing the power needs for millions of Liberians craving electricity.
A key concern raised during the Weah administration when the Karpower issue emerged, is that there are many hidden costs attached and the LEC will, under the contract terms, have to pay for all power produced whether consumed or not.
At 50 percent current theft rate, the actual cost will be doubled if 16 cents are only a base cost, one source told FrontPage Africa. At the moment, the cost of power at Mt. Coffee is set at 6 cents. The 35 cents tariff is necessary to cover operational costs, especially with 500+ employees and maintenance costs. The tariff would come down once the customer base increases. So, even if LEC buys at 16 cents, it would be unlikely that it would sell for that amount.
During his visit to Cote d’Ivoire last Friday, President Boakai re-echoed his stance on what is seen as a better alternative, when he paid an important visit to the headquarters of TRANSCO CLSG, where he met with the General Manager, Mohammed M. Sherif, and the senior management team of the multi-donor-funded company in Cocody, Abidjan on Friday, March 8, 2024. The President elucidated the importance of unimpeded electricity to Liberia’s growth.
“Electricity is life,” the Liberian leader deeply emphasized. He later expressed his unwavering support for the sustainability of the landmark CLSG project, which connects Cote d’Ivoire with Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, with the flow of electricity. President Boakai assured that his government will provide support to the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) aimed to make sure that LEC is viable to carry out robust connection exercises to more communities, including implementing the rural electrification program.
Stressing that access to electricity is vital for a good standard of living, the Liberian leader urged Liberians to pay for the power they use. “The people of Liberia need to know that this is not free. The more the people become cautious about paying, the better we will continue to enjoy the facility,” President Boakai emphatically said.
He acknowledged Liberia’s indebtedness to Cote d’Ivoire but assured that his government would exert every effort to settle all arrears thereof. He urged LEC to implement a robust exercise to ensure the power is available and accessible, reiterating that the electricity is not free.
The Liberian leader lauded the TRANSCO CLSG General Manager and his team for the remarkable job of executing the CLSG project. “We are very grateful for this (CLSG project) and want to thank you for the hard work. We are interested in what you do. To construct your own office takes sacrifice and it’s laudable. Thank you,” President Boakai praised TRANSCO CLSG.
The Liberian leader took keen note of the TRANSCO CLSG’s motto – “Connecting light to lives” – to which he underscored the importance of how electricity is vital to human wellbeing. “We can assure you that with your technical work done, we will continue to provide the needed political support, as we are willing to go the extra mile to ensure our people get access to electricity.”
President Boakai thanked President Ouattara and the people of Cote d’Ivoire for the courageous effort to extend electricity to neighboring countries, as part of regional integration objectives aspired by the four (4) countries.
Earlier, Mr. Sherif made a presentation on the CLSG project, incorporating information from its conception to the attainment of key milestones. He also disclosed some of the challenges encountered during the project implementation, as well as the vast opportunities the project presents at the current juncture.
The TRANSCO CLSG General Manager lamented the energy constraints being faced by Liberia, which has led to significant load shedding by LEC. He expressed the need for the Government to finance its indebtedness to CI Energies and provide adequate financial support to enable LEC to build and expand its national transmission and distribution network including connecting large communities, industries, and mining sites. According to Mr. Sherif, annual budget support to LEC will go a long way in fast-tracking the implementation of rural electrification and the expansion of connections to more towns and villages.
Mr. Sherif informed President Boakai that TRANSCO CLSG will continue to solicit support from the government for its sustainability. “We know that this mechanism (CLSG project) is working and all of us need to put our hands and support it for the CLSG Line to work as envisaged by the four member countries.” He called on the government to move aggressively to support the project. “It’s a reliable power source and mechanism once we can make the necessary funding available,” he emphasized.
The TRANSCO CLSG General Manager also recognized the sacrifices being made by Cote d’Ivoire, by making sure power flows through the line, despite payment delays. “Cote d’Ivoire has been doing very well. They have not increased the price, despite the increase in the price of gas and other imported materials. They continue to maintain the original price and operate at a loss. We are grateful to them.”
Mr. Sherif, on behalf of the management and staff of TRANSCO CLSG, presented a plaque to President Boakai in appreciation of his visit to the TRANSCO CLSG headquarters.
President Boakai was accompanied by Foreign Minister Sarah Beysolow-Nyanti, Finance and Development Planning Minister Boima S. Kamara, Agriculture Minister J. Alexander Nuetah, Senior Economic Advisor to the President Morley Paul Kamara, and Liberia Electricity Managing Director Monie R. Captan. Other members of the delegation include Acting Chief of Protocol Antoinette Wolo, Presidential Press Secretary Kula B.N. Fofana, and Executive Assistant to the President Morie Yuade Nemah.
