Buchanan Begins a New Chapter as EU-Backed Power Project Brings Electricity to the City
By: J. Emmanuel Deshield Sr.
BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa County | July 24, 2026 — For years, darkness settled over Buchanan each evening, forcing many families and businesses to depend on candles, flashlights, and costly generators. That reality is beginning to change.
On Wednesday night, President Joseph Boakai officially launched the first phase of the €42 million Light Up South-East Liberia Project, illuminating major streets across Buchanan and marking a significant milestone in the city’s drive toward reliable electricity.
The project, financed by the European Union, is expected to extend electricity beyond the city’s main roads, bringing power to homes, schools, health facilities, businesses, and public institutions.
For many residents, access to stable electricity represents more than convenience it offers new opportunities for education, healthcare, commerce, and safer communities.
Implemented through a partnership involving the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA), and the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), the initiative is aimed at improving infrastructure and supporting economic growth across southeastern Liberia.
The launch comes as Buchanan hosts Liberia’s 179th Independence Day celebrations, giving the moment added national significance.
Government officials say the investment reflects ongoing efforts to expand development beyond Monrovia and improve the quality of life in counties across the country.
While the initial phase has already transformed parts of the city with functioning streetlights, work continues to connect more neighborhoods and businesses.
Residents remain hopeful that the project will deliver lasting benefits, allowing families to live more comfortably and businesses to operate longer into the evening.
For many in Buchanan, the glow of the new streetlights is more than a change in the skyline it is a symbol of hope for a brighter future.
