28 August 2013, Monrovia – The West African Power Pool project, WAPP, will cost US$ 440 million to implement, according to Mr. Joseph Mayah, deputy-managing director of the Liberia Electricity Corporation, LEC.
Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea will electrified from neighbouring Cote d’ Ivoire upon completion.
The Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone-Guinea, CLSG, energy project was mandated by an ECOWAS Energy protocol that was signed in 1999 with an overall objective to interconnect member States with quality, cheap and affordable energy market in the sub region.
“This project is going to cost US$440 million ($323 million Euros), and it will take up to four years to be completed,” Mr. Mayah said.
He added: “The objective here is to build a 1,535km line from Man in Cote d’Ivoire through Yekepa, Liberia, and from Buchanan to Monrovia (to the Mount Coffee Hydro), and then to Bo Waterside onward to Sierra Leone.”
Mr. Mayah said the 1535km line will initially bring 120 megawatts, and at its full completion, “it will bring up to 240 megawatts to the three member countries–Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. The objective of this exercise is to import electricity at a reasonable cost for our citizens.”
Mr. Amadou Diallo, secretary General of WAPP-CLSG project, explained some of the benefits associated with the project to New Democrat, saying: “This project is to interconnect Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea with quality, cheap and affordable electricity.
“You have roughly 1,400 meters of transmission lines, and eleven high voltage substations. This project is to connect all Liberians, from Man, Sanniquellie, Ganta, Grand Gedeh, Maryland.” Mr. Diallo was upbeat about the progress of the project, and thanked President Sirleaf, the government and people of Liberia for the warm hospitality accorded their delegation.
He said funding for the project would come from the World Bank, WB, and African Development Bank, AfDB, as well as the EIB, KfW and donors. Mr. Diallo He did not say whether or not funding for the project would be given as loans to CLSG.
“Right now, as I speak to you, the project is going on well. This exercise will help Liberia develop its hydro project,” he added.
