The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) has issued a large composite micro utility license to Energicity Liberia. Energicity Liberia Corp, is an active minigrid developer and operator with 71 minigrids in operation across Sierra Leone and Benin.
The licensing of Energicity Liberia is in compliance with Section 5.3, application for license for the 2015 electricity law if Liberia. Giving the overview of the occasion on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 in Congo Town, LERC Acting Managing Director, Abu B. Sanso said the decision of the Commission to have issued the license is based on an application from Energicity Liberia to generate and distribute electricity in Gbarpolu County.
“Today, the Commission shall in fulfillment of section 5.6 and finalization of application as enshrined in the 2015 ELL issue Energicity a large composite micro utility license,” Sanso stated.
He described the action of the Commission as a testimony of LERC’s ability to not only attract private sector investment in the electricity sector by the creation of an enabling regulatory environment but to also fulfill the government’s goal of access to reliable and safe electricity to citizens and residents nationwide.
Presenting the license to Energicity Liberia, Dr. Lawrence D. Sekajipo, Chairman of LERC Board of Commissioners said, “In accordance with the 2015 Electricity Law of Liberia, this License is issued to the Energicity Liberia, a business registered under the laws of the Republic of Liberia, hereinafter referred to as the “License Holder, for the Generation, Distribution and Sale of Electricity without discrimination to customers within Gbarpolu County (Totoquolle, Henry Town, Farwanta, Gbana, Zuo, Yagaryah, Takpoima, Smith Camp and Wesua) in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the License.
According to Dr. Sekajipo, The License is valid for a period of 25 years commencing on the July 17, 2024 up to and including the 16h day of July 2049. In response, Neema Kezilahabi, Regional Director of Construction for Energicity Liberia, indicated that the license will enable the company to add 10 sites in Gbarpolu County to the portfolio, ranging in size from 26.88 kW in Totokolle to 750 kW for Bopolu City, the county capital.
She added that the total license will enable over 1MW of initial solar development and approximately $4 million in investment which the company has already started building. Madam Kezilahabi revealed that the company is planning to commission its first projects this year and complete all 10 sites in the first half of 2026.
“We are particularly excited because with this license, we will be entering our third country, Liberia. More than that, this milestone represents connecting up to 40,000 Liberians to grid-scale electricity for the first time,” she said.
