MONROVIA – The Government Director of the Environmental Safety Company (EPA) of Liberia, Dr. Emmanuel King Urey-Yarkpawolo, has disclosed that roughly 70 p.c of Liberia’s present electrical energy era comes from renewable sources, primarily hydro and solar energy.
By Selma Lomax,[email protected]
Talking in a latest interview with the BBC, Dr. Urey-Yarkpawolo stated the nation is making regular progress in its transition towards clear vitality, regardless of ongoing challenges in electrical energy entry.
“Proper now, total, Liberia’s electrical energy era is about 70 p.c coming from renewable vitality sources. That’s primarily hydro, but additionally photo voltaic mixed to make the 70 p.c,” he said.
He acknowledged that whereas this marks vital progress, the nation nonetheless faces a considerable vitality hole. Nonetheless, he stated plans are in place to scale up renewable vitality to satisfy rising demand and help financial growth.
“We nonetheless wouldn’t have sufficient electrical energy to energy our economic system. We’ve developed a plan in order that we develop the economic system utilizing renewable vitality. That’s the path the nation is headed proper now,” he stated.
In line with Dr. Urey-Yarkpawolo, development is ongoing at Mount Espresso Hydro, the place a 20-megawatt photo voltaic plant is being developed. A further 15-megawatt facility can be deliberate for a similar location, which is able to convey the full photo voltaic capability on the website to 35 megawatts.
“It will assist increase the electrical energy that provides town of Monrovia,” he added.
He additional defined that Liberia is adopting a two-pronged method to renewable vitality growth—supporting each large-scale photo voltaic farms and smaller, decentralized rooftop programs, significantly in rural areas. He famous that the federal government is encouraging personal sector involvement and providing incentives for households and companies to put money into photo voltaic options.
Dr. Urey-Yarkpawolo additionally addressed considerations about Liberia’s dependence on overseas photo voltaic expertise. He confirmed that China stays a key provider however stated the federal government is increasing its partnerships.
“We’re getting photo voltaic panels from China, however we’re additionally getting photo voltaic panels from California,” he stated. “The nation is transferring towards working with any accomplice prepared to help Liberia—as long as the partnership doesn’t drawback us.”
The EPA boss famous that Liberia’s efforts are a part of a broader pattern throughout Africa. In line with latest knowledge from UK-based vitality suppose tank Ember, photo voltaic panel imports into the continent rose by 60 p.c over the previous 12 months, signaling a rising shift towards photo voltaic vitality throughout the area.
Trying forward, Dr. Urey-Yarkpawolo stated the federal government goals to considerably improve vitality entry for Liberians over the subsequent 5 years, with renewable vitality enjoying a central function.
“Our concept is to have the ability to energy the economic system so abnormal folks have electrical energy,” he stated. “We’re ensuring that our folks have entry to electrical energy within the inside and completely different components of the nation. A variety of effort has been put in place in order that, sooner or later, the nation can develop.”
