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The African Development Fund (ADF) has approved a significant financial injection of $7.41 million to ensure the completion of a pivotal renewable energy initiative in Liberia, the Renewable Energy for Electrification project.
The additional loan is earmarked to overcome critical financial and operational hurdles that have delayed the project, which centres on the construction of a 9.34-megawatt run-of-river hydropower plant at Gbedin Falls in Nimba County.
This vital funding will address cost overruns encountered during the plant’s construction and cover expenses for associated infrastructure. It is also expected to mitigate the impact of project management delays and provide necessary capital for previously underfunded components.
A key aspect of this supplementary financing is the bolstering of the project’s Gender Action Plan, ensuring that social safeguards are met and that the benefits of electrification actively promote gender equality and women’s empowerment within the local communities.
A collaborative effort between the Liberian government and the African Development Bank (AfDB), the project received its initial approval in October 2019. Implementation commenced in March 2021, following the signing of financing agreements in early 2020.
Upon its completion, the Gbedin Falls plant is projected to generate approximately 56.5 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity annually.
This is set to provide a stable power supply to an estimated 60,000 people in Nimba County who currently lack access to the grid, marking a major leap forward in Liberia’s efforts to expand electricity access and drive sustainable economic development.
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