Major corridors and communities across Buchanan are experiencing renewed electricity activity, thanks to a €42M grant from the European Union (EU) to support the electrification of three cities in the South East, the Government of Liberia, through the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) and Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) accelerate efforts to expand electricity access in and around the city.
Areas including the Benson River communities, Tubman Street, LOIC catchment communities, K-Plaza areas, Robert Street, Hotel Buchanan, the Fairground area, the Administrative Building, Kiber Street, the Liberia Government Hospital area, and New Buchanan are currently experiencing varying levels of electricity service, particularly through street lighting.
At the same time, the connection of homes, businesses, and public facilities is progressing gradually as RREA’s engineering teams continue service-drop connections to customers.
Both RREA’s LUSE Project Manager, Josephus A. G. Sonniful, and LEC’s Deputy Managing Director, Thomas Z. Gonkerwon have reported that households are currently receiving electricity meters as the connection process advances across Buchanan.
The project officials say the electrification work will continue through October 2026. Residents who are connected during the current phase will remain connected as implementation continues until the project reaches completion.
The ongoing work includes the installation of poles, transformers and streetlights, and connection of medium- and low-voltage distribution lines, along with service connections to homes, businesses, and public facilities.
The electrification drive follows recent efforts by the Presidential Delivery Unit to accelerate the delivery of electricity services in Buchanan ahead of Liberia’s July 26 Independence Day celebrations.
The work is being implemented under the EU-supported Light Up South-East Liberia (LUSE) project, which is designed to expand electricity access across southeastern Liberia. The €42 million EU grant supports the broader electrification initiative, including the connection of thousands of households, businesses, and public facilities, as well as the installation of streetlights.
With work continuing across the city, Buchanan is gradually beginning to experience the return and expansion of public electricity services, with further household and institutional connections expected as the project advances through October 2026.
