The World Bank has approved $45 million in funding to support Liberia’s Renewable Energy Solar Power Intervention Project (RESPITE).
Announced by the World Bank on June 25, the funding will support the development of the country’s first 20 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project and expansion of the Mount Coffee hydropower plant, increasing its capacity from 88 MW to 129 MW.
“Liberia has made tremendous progress in the energy sector and remains the only country in sub-Saharan Africa that has reduced distribution losses by 30%, with over half a million new connections to households,” stated Practice Manager for West and Central Africa at the World Bank, Ashish Khanna.
With a total budget of $96 million, RESPITE aims to finance the procurement and installation of approximately 106 MW of solar PV and battery energy and storage systems; 41 MW of hydro capacity; and related distribution and transmission interventions across the North African region.