The additional financing from the African Development Fund will enable Liberia to complete construction of the run-of-river hydropower plant and related infrastructure.
The extra funding will address cost increases related to the construction of a 9.34 MW run-of-river hydropower plant at Gbedin Falls in Nimba County, along with associated transmission infrastructure and project management extensions. It will also support the full execution of the Gender Action Plan and other previously under-budgeted components.
According to the African Development Fund, the resources will enable "completion of the hydropower plant, its integration into the grid and the full implementation of safeguards."
Originally approved on 31 October 2019 and with financing agreements signed in January 2020, the project is a joint effort between the Government of Liberia and the African Development Bank Group. Construction work started in March 2021.
Key elements include the hydropower facility itself, expected to generate approximately 56.5 GWh annually, an 8 km 33 kV transmission line connecting to two substations, and linkage to a regional cross-border line. The initiative also covers a 15 km permanent access road, an 8 km temporary construction road, and the installation of 50 km of 33/0.4 kV distribution lines.
Once operational, the plant will supply around 6.9 per cent of Liberia’s total electricity needs and provide first-time grid connections for about 6,650 households in Nimba and Bong counties, extending reliable power access to roughly 60,000 residents.
The additional support underscores the commitment of both the Government of Liberia and the African Development Bank Group to deliver sustainable, clean energy infrastructure despite challenges encountered during implementation. Completion of the Gbedin Falls plant will mark a significant step toward increasing renewable energy capacity and improving electricity access in rural areas of the country.
The African Development Fund, the concessional financing arm of the African Development Bank Group, continues to play an important role in supporting energy sector development across the continent through affordable, long-term loans and grants tailored to member countries' needs.
