MONROVIA, Oct. 29 (LINA) – The Minister of Mines and Energy of Liberia, Gesler E. Murray, has commended the Swedish Government for its » Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) Liberia program.
‘Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa’ is a Swedish Government concept to provide results- based financing scheme geared towards providing clean, affordable, off-grid energy to Liberians living in rural and urban areas.
According to Murray, it is highly commendable that it is now being replicated in Liberia with an investment of about 10 million Euros to support the off-grid clean energy companies to deliver services to Liberians, adding that the gesture is timely and in direct support of the government’s Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).
Speaking during a private sector stakeholder consultative workshop at a local hotel in Monrovia, Murray said the initiative will certainly bridge the challenges associated with the availability of funding faced by local companies ambitious of being competitive in the energy sector,
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He noted that this also allows Liberians to safeguard investment for the greater good of the population that has been energy-starved for years.
« From our side as National Government, we are strengthening the legal framework to create the level playing field for all players in the energy sector, » Murray assured the private sector of government’s commitment to widen the scope of investment in the sector.
He said the availability of the financial support should now give opportunity to companies to develop innovative projects to deliver energy services to Liberians and ensure those services become more widely available in areas beyond the reach of the central grid, stressing the need for the creation of more solar villages, and solar home systems to the most remote areas where the mini-grids cannot be extended.
Murray indicated that many people outside Monrovia have been living without electricity for the most part of their lives, noting that if these people have access to electricity their economic livelihood will change immediately as electricity is a poverty alleviation and wealth creation facility.
The Mines and Energy boss said there are investment opportunities in developing smart and innovative technologies to bring power to communities in keeping with the ECOWAS Regional Renewable Energy policy that is also in consonance with the sustainable Energy for All (SEA)
Murray noted that he was impressed to realize that over 750,000 Zambians gained access to clean, affordable energy under this same financing scheme by the Government of Sweden and therefore Liberians should be proud and take advantage of the opportunity.
He, however, extended special commendation to the Ambassador of Sweden, Madam Ingrid Wetterqvist for her role in extending this initiative to Liberia.
LINA LGF/JT/PTK
