Liberia
With a cumulative score of 0.84, Liberia ranks number 95 among emerging markets and number 124 in the global ranking.
- Emerging markets
- Middle East & Africa
0.94 / 5
Power score
0.61 / 5
Transport score
Buildings score
Only 56 markets (28 emerging markets) are scored on the Buildings sector. See the full list on the methodology page.
Low-carbon strategy
Net-zero goal and strategy
Liberia's targets through 2030 include mitigation strategies (reduction of emissions by 10%, improving energy efficiency by 20%, and raising the share of renewables to 40% of electricity production, and 30% of consumption) and adaptation strategies (in agriculture, hydroelectric energy, forestry, and health), which support a stated long-term goal of being carbon-neutral by 2050. They have recently added clean cooking to their emissions reduction strategy and the renewable energy target is an increase from the original targets set in 2009. The carbon-neutral target is easily attainable due to their large carbon sinks in the form of moist forests.
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)
Liberia has submitted an updated NDC including a business as usual (BAU) target to reduce GHG emissions by 10%, resulting in an absolute emissions level of 11,187 CO2eq in 2030.
Fossil fuel phase-out policy
Liberia has plans to phase out fossil fuel use, including the diesel plants supporting the main source of power at Mount Coffee, in favor of solar PV. Small hydro plants are being built on rivers with solar PV as a compliment, sponsored by funds from the European Union.
Power
Power policy
The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) is currently the sole supplier of retail grid power. LEC is a state-owned monopoly responsible for generation, transmission, distribution, and system operation in Liberia. The utility owns and operates a small fleet of mostly hydroelectric generators, including the 88-megawatt Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant, which was returned to service in December 2016 after being offline for 26 years through civil turmoil and the Ebola outbreak.
The National Energy Policy is currently being revised to provide an open market structure to public and private interventions, prepare for an open distribution network, and retain transmission responsibilities. LEC has made one franchise agreement with Jungle Energy Power to distribute power in Nimba County. This distribution comes off the imported power from Ivory Coast under the West African Power Pool agreement. Draft regulations for power purchase agreements, grid extensions, new interconnections and private electricity suppliers have been formally submitted for government review.
Power policies
Power prices and costs
Liberia’s retail electricity prices have declined significantly in recent years because of the refurbishment of the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant, which brought a low-cost supply to the heavily constrained power system. Substantial investment is required in the LEC grid, which may increase prices over time. Small river-based hydro projects are being installed and supplemented by solar PV which will increase the rate of electrification in the country.
The lack of a transparent and uniform policy framework has hindered clean energy investment in Liberia to date, but the country is focused on incentivizing private investment. There is significant potential for new solar projects, especially as the regulatory and policy framework continues to improve.
Power market
LEC is a state-owned monopoly responsible for generation, transmission, distribution, retail and system operation in Liberia. The utility owns and operates a small fleet of mostly hydroelectric generators, including the 88MW Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant, which was returned to service in December 2016 after being offline for 26 years through civil turmoil and the ebola outbreak. LEC also procures power from independent producers – mostly embedded diesel generators. The LEC grid is concentrated around Monrovia and expansion of the grid to more rural areas is currently under way. Liberia receives 8MW of power from neighboring Cote d’Ivoire and will receive an additional 27MW once the West Africa Power Pool is complete.
Installed Capacity (in MW)
Electricity Generation (in GWh)
Utility privatisation
Which segments of the power sector are open to private participation?
Wholesale power market
Does the country have a wholesale power market?
Doing business and barriers
The refurbishment of the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant was a game-changer for the Liberian energy system. Power quality and reliability has since improved, and retail rates have dropped. However, demand for electricity far exceeds supply and significant grid investment is required. Outside of Monrovia, microgrid development has commenced despite the lack of a dedicated policy framework and regulatory oversight. There is significant potential for new solar and hydro projects, especially as the regulatory and policy framework continues to improve.
Currency of PPAs
Are PPAs signed in or indexed to U.S. Dollars or Euro?
Bilateral power contracts
Can a C&I (Commercial and Industrial) customer sign a long-term contract (PPA) for clean energy?
Bilateral power contracts
Can a C&I (Commercial and Industrial) customer sign a long-term contract (PPA) for clean energy?
Bilateral power contracts
Can a C&I (Commercial and Industrial) customer sign a long-term contract (PPA) for clean energy?
Fossil fuel subsidies
Does the government influence the wholesale price of fossil fuel (used by thermal power plants) down through subsidies?
Fossil fuel taxes
Does the government influence the wholesale price of fossil fuel (used by thermal power plants) up through taxes?
Transport
EV market
There is no electric vehicle (EV) market in Liberia.
EV policy
The government has yet to implement any substantive policy support in this sector and the EV market remains a future ambition only. Liberia is a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has recommended protocols for all vehicles to be 'clean emitters' by 2050. Currently, Liberia is focused on lowering emissions by only allowing vehicles to be registered in the country that are less than 10 years old. Taxes on the permits of vehicles older than 10 years have been increased in order to disincentivize imports of older vehicles.
Transport policies
Fuel economy standards
Does the country have a fuel economy standard in place?
Buildings
Buildings market
Effectively, Liberia has no heating. From an efficiency perspective, the government is just beginning to review possible energy efficiency improvements for government-owned buildings.
Energy performance standards
Are there minimum energy performance standards for buildings?
Energy efficiency plan
Does the country have a national energy efficiency plan?
Buildings policy
There are no current policies in place; standards for public buildings are included in the draft National Energy Policy but there is no funding source for improvements unless outside donors contribute.
