The Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) of Liberia launched the Commercialization of Off-Grid Solar Electric Lighting on February 23. The program is supported by a grant from the World Bank’s International Development Association through a program called “Catalyzing New Renewable Energy in Rural Liberia” as well as a grant from the Global Environment Facility.
The program aims to help an estimated 200,000 households and will be implemented by RREA while also helping drive the domestic off-grid solar lighting market in the country, meeting the Lighting Africa Minimum Quality Standards. This will be driven initially through a pilot sales phase and then through a lantern exchange program. The intended beneficiaries will be Liberians who currently rely on more expensive sources of lighting such as kerosene lamps.
Two pilot activities identified under the grant including the rehabilitation of a 60-kW micro-hydro power plant in Yandehun, and the establishment of solar off-grid rural electrification program in the country.
The micro-hydro power project is ongoing, while the solar off-grid rural electrification program is being launched. Assistant Minister for Energy at the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy Beauford O. Weeks said the program was a positive way forward for Liberia’s rural dwellers.
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