DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai addressed the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, presenting Liberia’s ambitious goals for expanding energy access across the nation. His speech underscored the critical importance of energy access in shaping the future of Liberia and Africa as a whole.
The President outlined Liberia’s commitment to ensuring universal access to reliable energy, which he emphasized is vital for the growth of economies, improvement in education and healthcare, and the creation of new opportunities. He further highlighted that energy access remains a key pillar in Liberia’s development strategy, particularly aligning with the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and the country’s National Energy Compact.
In his address, President Boakai pointed out that only 33% of Liberia’s population currently enjoys electricity, stressing the urgency of expanding energy infrastructure as a national priority. He acknowledged the significant challenges faced by the country, but reaffirmed his government’s commitment to electrifying 100,000 households annually, with a target of achieving 75% energy access by 2030. He detailed plans to bridge the urban-rural energy divide through a combination of grid expansion and distributed renewable energy solutions.
A number of strategic projects were discussed, including the development of the 150 MW Saint Paul 2 Hydropower Project, and the promotion of utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) projects to be driven by private sector investment. He also emphasized efforts to bring energy solutions to rural areas by expanding distributed renewable energy networks.
President Boakai highlighted the importance of both public and private sector investment in meeting Liberia’s energy goals. In that regard, he announced the formation of a high-level steering committee, headed by the Vice President, to spearhead the mobilization of financing for these projects. He revealed that Liberia’s first solar Independent Power Producer (IPP) project would undergo competitive bidding by October 2025, followed by the SP2 Hydropower Project, slated for bidding in November 2026.
Acknowledging the progress made in recent years, President Boakai noted that electricity access in Liberia has increased significantly, from just 3% in 2012 to 33% today. He also pointed to substantial improvements in the management of energy resources, with commercial losses reduced from over 40% in 2022 to less than 30% currently.
The President expressed gratitude to the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group for their support, particularly in facilitating crucial partnerships and helping drive forward energy sector reforms across the continent.
Concluding his speech, President Boakai reiterated the critical need for collaboration across Africa to ensure universal energy access by 2030. He emphasized that providing reliable energy is not just an infrastructure goal but a powerful tool to drive prosperity, foster inclusion, and pave the way for a sustainable future for all Africans. The Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit serves as a pivotal platform for African leaders to work together in shaping policies and forging partnerships aimed at achieving this ambitious energy goal.
