Liberia’s Deputy Minister for Economic Management at the Ministry of Finance, Hon. Dehpue Zuo has urged citizens of Grand Bassa County to own development as ownership in order to enhance domestic resource mobilization for improved service delivery across the county.
He made the disclosure over the weekend at the official groundbreaking ceremony held at the Transco/CLSG substation on the outsketch of Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County for the construction of two 33-kilovolt distribution networks and customer connections in the cities of Buchanan, Greenville
and Barclayville.
The landmark project is intended to provide reliable and affordable electricity to under-served communities in these areas.
The project valued at approximately €42 million or $ US 45 (Forty-Five Million United States Dollars) to construct two separate 33kV electricity generation and distribution networks in Buchanan, Greenville, and Barclayville cities with full support from the European Union’s ‘Rural Electrification Program’, focusing on the southeastern region of Liberia.
The project will benefit over 16,000 (Sixteen Thousand) households in the three counties.
Hon. Zuo thanked the European Union for their long standing relationship, partnership and full support towards Liberia development agenda especially under the leadership of president Boakai.
According to him, when development is owned by citizens it will enable them to have greater access to services delivery in areas of Health, Education, Agriculture and Security. ‘’I am encouraging all to see it as partnership projects that will affect many lives’’ he asseted.
He further said that domestic resource mobilization depends on electricity access which will in turn help make county service centers become functional.
He noted that the decision of President Boakai to electrify the three Southeastern cities shows responsible, visionary, and selfless leadership.
He also disclosed that the President is also working out modalities and lobbying with other partners to ensure similar electrification projects for the Western region and the North Central region.
For her part, the Head of European Union Delegation to Liberia, H.E Nona Deprez said the European Union has been a long-standing partner to Liberia especially in helping to improve its energy sector.
She said the partnership over the years have witnessed remarkable accomplishments as evident many projects including the lighting up of Monrovia affecting 42,000 households benefiting from electricity.
According to her the European Union has contributed €10 million to the Liberia Energy Efficiency and Access Program that focused on installing new transmission lines and enhancing the energy infrastructure.
"Liberia has an amazing potential access to electricity because it is endowed with abundant renewable energy sources, mainly hydro and solar, that could effectively give light to all Liberians, she said.”
Ambassador Deprez also stressed the significance of the European Union Global Gateway strategy that seeks to boost smart, clean, and secure connections in digital, energy, and transport sectors.
"Today groundbreaking is a grant contribution toward Liberia energy sectors to fight climate change and boost Liberia’s competitiveness’’ she said.
Grand Bassa County Senate Pro-Tempore, Hon. Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence applauded such development contributions by the European Union grant as a milestone achievement for the people of Bassa and stated that the project will empower businesses and improve electricity challenges confronted residents in the following counties.
THe European Union Rural Electrification Program is estimated at €42 million euros which seek to benefit over 50,000 (Fifty Thousand) people in Buchanan, Greenville, and Barclayville with total investment in Liberia’s energy sector exceeding 100 (One Hundred) million euros.
The project will be implemented by MBH power, RDEA, and COLENCO with an estimated duration of 28 months from now to February 2027 where 17,064 new homes and 1,442 businesses are expected to benefit. 424 full-time jobs will be provided and 700 street lights are expected to be installed in Buchanan and Greenville with a 33kV distribution system in Buchanan, 850kW solar power plant.
Additionally, 2MW Mini Hydro Power Plant in Greenville, and 200kWp Solar PV Plant in Barclay plus 2 Diesel Generators (850kVA and 225kVA) with total of 12,057 new service connections, 11,000 households, and 1,057 businesses (917 SMEs, 42 large customers, 18 large administration and community buildings.
5☆00 streetlights will be installed with 119 full-time jobs created with a 65km Distribution Network of 33kV Distribution Lines from a 225kV substation in Buchanan as the estimated time for completion in 36 Months providing job creation of 259 from 850kW Solar Power Plant and 2MW Mini Hydro Power Plant and the Rehabilitation of feeder roads in Greenville including a backup of 850kva Diesel Generator with an estimated time of Completion at 38 Months.
The event brought together development partners, government officials, community dwellers, as well as participants from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.