EU, Liberia Launch $42M Electrification

March 27, 2025

Key Figures & Findings: The European Union has committed $42 million (EUR 42 million) in grant funding to support a transformative rural electrification project in Liberia, targeting Buchanan, Barclayville, and Greenville. Unveiled during a site visit by Liberia’s Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan, the initiative includes a hybrid mix of solar, hydro, and mini-grid technologies, making it one of the EU’s most ambitious rural energy efforts in West Africa. Ngafuan confirmed that the Liberian government will meet all domestic obligations to ensure delivery. The EU Delegation, represented by Ambassador Nona Deprez, emphasized that the initiative is fully grant-funded and part of broader efforts to support Liberia’s infrastructure and climate-resilient development. This project comes after more than eight years of limited power services in Grand Bassa, highlighted by Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence.

Statistics & Insights: The $42 million project aims to electrify over 16,000 homes across three underserved regions—12,054 in Buchanan, 4,344 in Greenville, and additional homes in Barclayville via solar mini-grids and home systems. It will also deploy 825 LED streetlights, build a 43-kilometer transmission line, and construct a mini-hydro plant on the Sinoe River Rapids, offering a rare integrated approach combining solar, hydro, and grid extension in rural West Africa

Future Implications:  If executed as scheduled, this program could significantly improve electricity access for southeastern Liberia by 2026, offering a rare combination of grid-based and decentralized solutions in hard-to-reach regions. It may also serve as a replicable model for donor-funded rural electrification across the ECOWAS region.