In a boost to West Africa’s growing push for sustainable energy, the African Development Fund (ADF) has approved an additional $7.41 million to fast-track the completion of Liberia’s Renewable Energy for Electrification project. The decision was taken during the Fund’s Board meeting in Abidjan.
As the concessional arm of the African Development Bank Group, the ADF said the extra financing will close funding gaps linked to construction delays, rising project costs, and the implementation of the project’s Gender Action Plan. The support underscores the Bank’s continued commitment to expanding reliable, renewable power across Africa.
The Renewable Energy for Electrification project — a collaboration between the Government of Liberia and the AfDB — was first approved in 2019, with implementation beginning in 2021. It forms part of Liberia’s broader effort to rebuild and modernize its energy system after years of infrastructural deficits.
At the heart of the project is a 9.34-megawatt run-of-river hydropower plant being developed at Gbedin Falls in Nimba County. Using the natural flow of the river, the plant is expected to generate 56.5 GWh of clean electricity every year, contributing nearly 7% to Liberia’s national energy supply.
Beyond power generation, the project is designed to open up new possibilities for communities. It includes:
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An 8-km, 33-kV evacuation line
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Two new transformer substations
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A cross-border transmission link to strengthen regional energy trade
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A 15-km permanent access road and an 8-km temporary road
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50 km of distribution lines
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Connection of 6,650 households across Nimba and Bong Counties
Once completed, the initiative will extend electricity access to about 60,000 people who have never been connected to the grid, with 6,500 new direct connections to the national system. This expansion is expected to boost local economies, support small businesses, and improve living conditions in rural communities.
For Liberia, the project represents more than energy infrastructure — it marks another step toward a future where access to affordable and reliable electricity is no longer a privilege but a shared national reality.
