First Ever Utility-Scale Solar Farm to be commissioned in November
By STAFF REPORTER
Monrovia, Liberia – In an effort to bolster energy supply to households in Liberia, especially the rural areas, the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has announced that the country’s first-ever solar farm will be commissioned in November 2025, boosting national electricity production by an additional 20 megawatts.
In October last year, President Joseph Boakai broke ground for the construction of what is believed to be Liberia’s First-ever Solar utility-scale farm in Harrisburg, Montserrado County, marking a significant step towards addressing the nation’s power shortages, particularly during the dry season.
The move is part of the government’s commitment to connect 100, 000 households per annual, increasing the distribution of electricity access to the Country’s population by 75% up from the current 32.7% in the proposed National Energy Compact submitted by the Minister of Finance Augustine Kpehe Nganfua to international partners at the African Energy Summit in Tanzania earlier this year.
Making the disclosure on a local radio show, LEC Communications Director Philip Faley said the project is on track for completion and will mark a significant milestone in Liberia’s energy sector.
He described it as a breakthrough that will bring reliable power to rural communities and end years of darkness in many hard-to-reach counties.
“Management Team of the LEC led by Managing Director Mohammed Sheriff tour key project sites to physically assess progress of these projects, particularly the construction of Liberia’s First-ever Utility Scale Solar Farm, which is expected to produce about 20MW of electricity”, the LEC Director of Communications revealed.
He confirmed “the 20MW Solar Farm is on course, and as we speak steel structures are being erected hand in hand along with the installation of solar panels.”
Faley explained that the solar farm will not only expand energy supply but also help reduce gas emissions from electricity production.
“this is a testament that Liberia as a Country is transitioning to the energy transition that will be able to reduce gas emissions, which is a global cause that countries should begin to use this type of energy supply. ” He disclosed
With this development, more households in Montserrado and other Counties are expected to be connected to the Country’s national electricity grid, bringing relief to thousands of residents who normally decried severe heat during the dry season.
Restoring Mount Coffee Full Power Supply Capacity
Meanwhile, Mr. Philip Faley disclosed that LEC is working to repair a damaged turbine at the Mount Coffee Hydro Power Plant, which has been out of service since 2021.
In June 2021, one of the four turbines (unit 1) experienced serious damage on its winding stator, causing a significant reduction in power supply at Mount Coffee Hydro Power Plant from 88 Megawatts to 66 megawatts.
Once completed, the repair will restore Mount Coffee’s generating capacity to its original 88 megawatts.
“In June of this year, the LEC management turned over the repair of that turbine to a contracting company called Sano Hydro and the repair works are moving progressively,” he said.
Falay assured the completion of the repair works within 11months.
“I will like to state that in 10 to 11 months this turbine is expected to be fully restored.”
The LEC Communications Director highlighted that both initiatives are part of LEC’s broader efforts to strengthen electricity supply in Monrovia and across the country.
