Min. Paye Outlines National Compact at 21st APUA Congress in Cairo

The Minister of Mines and Energy, Hon. Wilmot Paye, has called on African governments, multilateral institutions, utilities, and private sector partners to join forces in building a sustainable energy architecture for the continent that can unlock industrialization, drive urbanization, and ensure long-term prosperity. Speaking during a Ministerial Roundtable at the 21st Congress of the African Power Utilities Association (APUA) in Cairo, Egypt, Minister Paye delivered a comprehensive briefing on Liberia’s energy challenges, reforms, and ambitious goals under the theme: 

“Building Africa’s Energy Architecture for Long-Term Prosperity Catalyzing Industrialization and Urbanization via Sustainable Energy.” Minister Paye, on behalf of His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., and the people of Liberia, commended the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt for hosting the 21st APUA Congress and praised His Excellency Dr. Mahmoud Mostafa Esmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy of Egypt, for spearheading the organization of the gathering. He acknowledged the event as a timely platform for shaping collective energy strategies that respond to the urgent needs of African nations while aligning with global commitments to climate action and sustainable development. Outlining Liberia’s realities, Minister Paye emphasized that the country’s energy situation “remains dire and calls for bold actions.” 

• Liberia’s hydro capacity, currently 88 MW, is rendered seasonal due to heavy reliance on rainfall, which averages 2,391mm annually. During the dry season, generation drops to near zero, creating long stretches of unreliable supply.
• The country’s 38 MW thermal plant is prohibitively expensive at US$0.33 per kWh, compared to US$0.14 per kWh for hydro.
• Electricity costs vary widely: as high as US$0.45 per kWh in some regions, and US$0.22 per kWh under the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC). Social tariffs are maintained at US$0.15 per kWh for vulnerable groups.

 “These realities hinder industrialization, urban development, and household electrification,” Minister Paye stated. Liberia’s target is to expand energy access from 33% to 75% by 2030 under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID). The “E” in AAID standing for Education, Empowerment, Energy, and Environment places electricity at the center of the country’s development strategy. Imports already play a role: Liberia sources 80 MW from Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea via the Transco CLSG network. With five energized substations already in place, Minister Paye stressed that Liberia is ready for major investments in power generation and distribution, particularly to serve industrial off-takers such as mining companies. The Minister unveiled the framework guiding Liberia’s energy policy, dubbed the National Energy Compact, which aims to connect 100,000 households annually up to 2030. Its pillars include: 

1. Compact Delivery and Monitoring Unit Operational by January 2026.
2. Rehabilitation and Expansion of generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure.
3. Leveraging Regional Integration Optimizing benefits from the CLSG network.
4. Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) Including clean cooking solutions.
5. Private-Sector Participation With Independent Power Producers (IPPs) under review, overseen by an IPP Steering Committee chaired by Liberia’s Vice President.
6. Utility Financial Viability Ensuring affordable, reliable, inclusive, and clean energy.
7. Transition to Prepaid Metering By end of 2026, 145 of 168 government institutions will shift to prepaid systems, drastically reducing financial losses from unpaid bills.

 Since 2024, Liberia has launched several governance and policy reforms: 

• Energy Sector Working Group A coordination body chaired by the Ministry of Mines and Energy with cross-sectoral membership.
• Energy Information System (EIS) A digital platform providing real-time data across the energy spectrum (oil, biofuels, hydro, geothermal, solar, etc.), enhancing transparency and planning.
• Net Metering Policy Validated and awaiting launch, allowing private solar owners to sell excess energy to the grid.

 “These reforms signal Liberia’s seriousness in improving sector governance and building investor confidence,” Minister Paye said. Liberia is advancing key energy projects, including: 

• A 20 MW solar power park to be commissioned this year.
• Expansion of Mt. Coffee Hydro to increase generation capacity.

However, Minister Paye cautioned that existing and funded projects fall far short of the country’s current demand of 400 MW. “This gap represents not just a challenge but a major investment opportunity,” he told delegates, stressing the Government’s openness to power purchase agreements and independent generation projects. While acknowledging Liberia’s structural constraints, Minister Paye highlighted the Government’s unwavering political will as a reason for optimism. “The national goal of 75% access by 2030 is ambitious, but it is achievable,” he declared. “The Liberia Electricity Corporation is targeting to connect at least 300,000 new customers. 

With private-sector participation aggressively encouraged, the investment climate has significantly changed.” Minister Paye further emphasized that Liberia’s energy transformation is aligned with broader African ambitions under Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals. “For us, sustainable energy is not just about light in homes. It is about powering schools, hospitals, industries, and the economy as a whole,” he said. 

In closing, the Minister appealed to partners to see Liberia as a frontier market for investment in renewable energy, transmission infrastructure, and distributed solutions. “Liberia stands ready to partner with utilities, financiers, and innovators. The opportunities are vast, the political will is strong, and the urgency is real. Together, we can build an energy architecture that powers Africa’s industrialization, drives urban growth, and secures long-term prosperity for our people,” Minister Paye concluded.