The Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) has signed contracts for Phase II of the Liberia Electricity Sector Strengthening Access Project (LESSAP II).
The project targets 100 percent solarization of 87 additional public health facilities, and 34 senior high public schools.
The contract signing ceremony, according to a release, marked another milestone in the efforts to expand access to reliable electricity, and advance national electrification targets by 2030.
The ceremony brought together representatives of the implementing agency, and the contracted joint venture, which has experience in delivering solar electrification projects.
LESSAP II Project Coordinator, Theophilus A. T. Kambo, outlined the project’s funding allocations, including US$3,577,833 for the additional health facilities, and US$1,093,500 for the public schools.
The project’s scope includes the supply, installation, and commissioning of stand-alone solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, and battery energy storage systems.
It will also provide remote monitoring, staff training, and operation, and maintenance services to support the sustainability and effective use of the installed systems.
The contract is awarded to a joint venture comprising MBH Power Limited and JIVO Energy Private Limited, with RREA serving as the implementing agency.
RREA Executive Director, Samuel Nagbe, stressed the importance of timely project delivery, and urged the contractors to comply fully with the terms and conditions of their contracts.
Nagbe said, delays in implementation would not be acceptable.
He noted that communities deserve to benefit from the government’s investments in rural electrification.
He further disclosed how the implementation approach used during the solarization of 90 health facilities under the first phase would be applied to Phase II.
Nagbe highlighted the importance of rigorous monitoring and evaluation, compliance with environmental safeguards, and the inclusive participation of local contractors and Liberian citizens throughout the implementation process.
Representatives of the MBH Power Limited and JIVO Energy Private Limited joint venture, recommitted to the successful implementation of the project.
The joint venture expressed readiness to deliver the required results, and contribute to expand access to reliable solar electricity in the health and education sectors.
The LESSAP II project is financed through a World Bank loan to the Government of Liberia and implemented by RREA.
The initiative forms part of national efforts to strengthen electricity access, and improve essential public services, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Through Phase II, the project seeks to strengthen the delivery of healthcare, and education services by providing sustainable solar power to additional health facilities, and public senior high schools.
RREA is the government’s agency responsible to facilitate, and accelerate the economic transformation of the rural communities by promoting the development, and supply of modern energy products and services, with emphasis on locally available renewable energy resources.
