LUSE Project Sparks New Hope

After years of waiting in the dark, residents of Greenville, Sinoe County, are finally beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel — quite literally. Concrete poles now line the main streets, and stacks of newly arrived transformers fill local warehouses, signaling tangible progress in the long-anticipated Light Up South East (LUSE) Project.

Funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented through Liberia’s Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA), the LUSE Project aims to expand access to affordable and sustainable electricity across the Southeast. Recently, an RREA technical team concluded a two-day field inspection in Greenville and nearby communities to assess the progress of ongoing works.

The delegation, led by Mr. Redeemer Wonsiah, Project Manager at RREA, included Mr. Brilliance K. Karmee, Structural Engineer; Mr. Simon Taylor, Team Leader for the Long-Term Technical Assistance; and Mr. Stanley McCauley, Media and Communication Officer. The team verified the number of concrete poles installed and inspected several others awaiting erection.

According to RREA, 30 transformers have arrived in Greenville — including eight (8) units of 100 kVA, ten (10) units of 50 kVA, and twelve (12) units of 25 kVA — all stored safely at Colenco’s warehouse pending deployment.

For residents of Greenville, these developments have reignited long-lost hope.

“We have been waiting for light for too long,” said Rebecca Toe, a local market woman. “Now that we see the poles and transformers coming, we believe change is finally coming too.”

Mr. Wonsiah emphasized that the inspection was crucial to ensuring the project’s quality and sustainability.

“Our aim is to make sure every pole, every line, and every transformer meets technical and safety standards,” he said. “The people of Sinoe deserve reliable and lasting electricity.”

The LUSE Project forms part of the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, designed to boost rural electrification and improve living conditions through renewable energy. The project’s key components include:

Construction of a new medium- and low-voltage distribution network connected to the 225/33kV CLSG substation in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.

Installation of an 850 kWp solar power plant in Greenville, Sinoe County.

Development of a 2 MW hydropower plant on the Sinoe River Rapids in Whejah District.

Establishment of a 200 kWp solar power plant and 11 kV mini-grid in Barclayville, Grand Kru County.

Spanning from 2025 to 2028, the LUSE Project is expected to transform the energy landscape of the Southeast — powering homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses, while spurring economic growth across the region.

“Electricity means more than light — it means opportunity,” said Simon Taylor. “It means growth, education, and a better future for rural Liberia.”

As Greenville waits to see the glow of electric light once again, the people’s renewed sense of optimism reflects a broader hope — that sustainable energy will illuminate not just homes, but lives and livelihoods across Sinoe County.

Story by: Stanley McCauley

Media and Communication Officer, RREA