Liberia is getting geared for its Mt. Coffee Hydropower Plant to begin construction next year. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said that the hydro plant could increase the country’s power generation by 1,000 MW.
The rehabilitation of the Mt. Coffee plant is part of Liberia’s phased development of the St. Paul River Basin. The northwest bend country aims to provide more power to residents, and also to export power to the West African Power Pool (WAPP) member states. According to the European Union Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund, the rehabilitation is estimated to cost about €1.5 million with the European Investment Bank (EIB) as the project lead manager.
The Liberian Oberserver quoted the President as saying that many financing options were currently being explored. Sirleaf said, “One option coming to us through the Valley Mining Co. of Brazil.” However, she noted that it wouldn’t be enough so other avenues, including the European Commission who has already committed €40 million to start the environmental study, were being looked into.
The feasibility study was conducted by US firm Stanley Engineering while the country continues to explore other upstream dam options.
“We hope it will get started sometime next year. But we will not see power from Mt. Coffee until around 2014-2015. Until then, we are exploring other alternative power sources, such as mini hydros. In fact there is a test going on right now with the support of USAID for a mini hydro, I think it’s in Lofa County. And they will try to test others.” Sirleaf said to the local paper.
Alternative Energy Africa did a special report listing African countries to wage RE bets, and Liberia top on our list. Read more about Liberia’s RE initiatives and projects in SPECIAL: Countries to Place Your RE Bets.
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