Doloquee
Monrovia — The President of the Republic of Liberia, George Manneh Weah has issued an Executive Order directing full governmental support to the implementation of the Mount Coffee Hydro Power Plant (MCHPP) Extension and Solar Project.
The President’s Executive Order, titled “Directing Full Governmental Support to the Implementation of the Mount Coffee Hydro Power Plant (MCHPP) Extension and Solar Project, the St Paul River 2nd Hydro (Sp2) Project and the Feasibility Study for the Via Reservoir Storage and Generation Project” takes immediate effect.
President Weah has ordered all Ministries and Agencies of the Government of Liberia to cooperate with all Liberian and international teams and components tasked with the successful conclusion of the critical project for the benefit of the Liberian people. The President indicated that this project is critical to both national security and national economic development.
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The Executive Order highlights the fact that Liberia has abundant river and solar radiation resources for the generation of Hydro and Solar Power, but only the Mount Coffee Hydro Power Plant (MCHPP) is generating utility-scale renewable green generation.
The President acknowledges Liberia’s commitments to support the COP 26 agendas carved in the United Kingdom in 2022 and the one due in Egypt in 2023. He added that the country remains committed to developing affordable renewable generation using Liberia’s associated natural resources.
The President’s Executive Order was issued following the completion of the full feasibility study for an MCHPP hydro extension of 44MW and an MCHPP solar project of 20MW, funded by the World Bank and the West African Power Pool. Liberia is now progressing to the fully funded implementation of these two components under the World Bank Funded RESPITE project.
In addition, the World Bank and the West African Power Pool have funded and are nearing the completion of the full and bankable feasibility study for a second 150MW hydro project on the St. Paul River, while preparing the options for a Via Reservoir and generation feasibility study.
President Weah observed that Liberia’s future economic and social development of our country is intrinsically linked to the development of affordable energy. He added that the country’s political, economic, and social National Security must be enhanced and secured by what he called “a level of Energy Sovereignty.”
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The Minister of Mines and Energy remains the project proponent, and the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) is the project implementation entity.
The President has mandated his officials to cooperate and support the fast-track provision and adherence to the required environmental and social standards, as well as the issuing of gratis permits and licenses if formally requested in writing by the Minister of Mines and Energy or the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LEC.
Furthermore, the leadership of the EPA, FDA, NAAFA, LISGIS, LIS, LNP, NPA, and RIA have also been requested to cooperate on the implementation of the projects, supporting the rapid movement of teams and equipment into, out of, and throughout Liberia.
This includes the issuing of gratis permits by the LIS, the Ministry of Labor, and any other issuing entity and the fast-tracking of equipment through the ports of entry.
The implementation of the Mount Coffee Hydro Power Plant (MCHPP) Extension and Solar Project, the St Paul River 2nd Hydro (Sp2) Project, and the feasibility study for the Via Reservoir Storage and Generation Project will not only provide access to affordable energy but also bring significant benefits to Liberia’s social and economic development.
I hope this project is successful and serves as an example for other countries to follow.
