from our Monrovia contributors
MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Minister of Mines and Energy, Hon. R. Matenokay Tingban, conducted a comprehensive assessment of the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant on Friday, March 13, 2026, highlighting the imminent commissioning of a new 20-megawatt (MW) solar power facility.
The solar farm, which is expected to be formally inaugurated by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., is in its final testing phases. During the tour, contractors briefed Minister Tingban on the facility’s efficacy, noting that the plant is nearly ready to begin injecting supplemental renewable energy into the national grid.
Technical Assessment and Grid Status
The ministerial delegation, which included Deputy Minister for Energy Charles Umehai and Assistant Minister Oliver S. Gbegbe, inspected the installation of 30,000 solar panels, power inverters, and supporting infrastructure.
Beyond the solar expansion, the visit focused on the operational recovery of the main hydropower plant. Current status reports provided by the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) include:
- Unit 1: Currently undergoing major repairs following previous damage; contractors reported rapid progress.
- Unit 2: Undergoing scheduled annual maintenance. Notably, this technical work is being spearheaded by Liberian electrical engineers.
- Units 3 & 4: Fully operational, currently synchronized with the Bushrod Thermal Plant and the CLSG (Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea) regional interconnection.
Addressing Transmission and Funding
While the increase in generation capacity is a milestone, the Minister acknowledged that “transmission”—the physical movement of electricity—remains a primary bottleneck for the sector. Jerry Taylor, CEO of TRANSCO-CLSG, affirmed the regional body’s commitment to collaborating with the Liberian government to optimize the national grid’s transmission capabilities.
Concluding the tour, which was guided by LEC Deputy Managing Directors Thomas Gonkerwon and Mohammed Sow, Minister Tingban pledged to advocate for increased budgetary support. He emphasized that additional funding is essential for the LEC to provide the reliable service levels required to drive Liberia’s economic growth.
The visit concluded with a series of technical presentations by LEC staff, outlining the corporation’s long-term strategy for operational stability and energy diversification.