Liberia has signed a $57 million financing agreement with the World Bank to strengthen its power sector under the Regional Emergency Solar Power Intervention (RESPITE) project. The funding aims to expand electricity access, improve energy reliability, and support the country’s broader transition toward cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.
A major share of the investment will be used to modernize the Mount Coffee hydropower plant, one of Liberia’s key electricity generation assets. The project will also increase the capacity of the national solar park from 20 megawatts to 30 megawatts and introduce battery energy storage systems to stabilize supply and reduce power interruptions.
In addition to generation upgrades, the funding will support the expansion of electricity access for households and businesses across the country. This is expected to improve living standards, enhance productivity, and support small and medium-sized enterprises that depend on reliable power supply for growth.
Alongside the energy financing, Liberia has also signed two additional agreements. One provides $50 million for the West Africa Regional Digital Integration Program Phase 2, aimed at improving broadband access, digital governance, cybersecurity, and digital entrepreneurship opportunities. The second allocates $18 million for the South-Eastern Corridor Road Asset Management Project to complete key road infrastructure along the Ganta–Tappita corridor.
Despite ongoing reforms, Liberia continues to face challenges in its energy sector, including limited generation capacity, infrastructure gaps, and high electricity costs. The country currently has an electrification rate of around 32.7%, with many communities still lacking reliable grid access.
The government has set an ambitious target to raise electrification to at least 75% by 2030 by expanding household connections, increasing renewable energy adoption, and attracting private sector investment. Plans also include boosting renewable energy’s share in the power mix to 75% and expanding overall generation capacity by 150%.
Liberia’s energy strategy also emphasizes the development of clean cooking solutions and stronger private sector participation. With significant untapped hydropower potential, including the 88-megawatt Mount Coffee facility already supplying a large share of national electricity, hydropower remains a central pillar of the country’s long-term energy transition.
