MONROVIA – JULY 8, 2026: The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), and the Liberia Compact Delivery and Monitoring Unit (CDMU), have held the first quarterly sitting of the Mission-300 Energy Compact Steering Committee on Friday, July 3, 2026, to review Compact implementation progress, addressing key bottlenecks.
Held at the Ministry of Mines and Energy in Monrovia, the high-level meeting brought together senior officials and technical experts from key Compact implementing institutions, including the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC), and the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA), including as well, members of the Compact Delivery and Monitoring Unit (CDMU) core team.
Chairing the meeting, the Minister of Mines and Energy, R. Matenkay Tingban, emphasized that the Steering Committee serves as a key oversight mechanism for coordinated, results-driven Compact implementation. Minister Tingban further said: “This convening marks the first formal review of 2025 progress and highlighting the need for decisive action, problem-solving, and strengthened inter-agency coordination to address the country’s longstanding energy challenges.”
The CDMU, led by Compact Program Manager, Kelvin K. Grugbaye, presented the 2025 progress report, highlighting steady advancement toward Liberia’s Mission-300 commitments. According to the presentation, Liberia has committed 24 policy and programmatic actions geared towards strengthening policy and regulatory frameworks, expanding renewable energy, increasing electricity access and clean cooking adoption, enhancing regional power integration, and mobilizing private sector investment.
To date, approximately 50% of actions are in progress, with 8% completed in 2025. Renewable energy generation has reached 86%, exceeding the national target, while 80% of the annual goal of 100,000 new household electricity connections was achieved in 2025. During the gathering of Energy stakeholders held over the weekend of of July 3, 2926, the Liberia Electricity Corporation also reported improvements in revenue collection, anti-power theft measures, as well as financial transparency.
Private sector participation and investment mobilization are advancing, with Liberia’s first Independent Power Producer (IPP) projects expected this year (2026).
Despite these gains, the Steering Committee identified key bottlenecks, including delays in securing approval for the Revised National Energy Policy, slow procurement processes, pending financing agreements for generation and electrification projects, and the need for accelerated technical assistance from Mission-300 partners. These challenges underscore the importance of expeditious support and coordinated action by all parties to achieve the Compact’s desired outcomes.
Additionally, while the World Bank and EnDev GIZ have supported the development of strategic directions for clean cooking, progress in adoption remains limited. The meeting highlighted the urgent need for stronger Government support and coordination to achieve cleaner cooking solutions for 200,000 households in line with the national ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) target. Continued reliance on traditional biomass imposes high economic, health, and environmental costs, estimated at US$3.1 billion annually – (about 64% of GDP), disproportionately affecting women and children.
To wrap up the day’s sitting, the Steering Committee adopted key resolutions and reaffirmed its commitment to quarterly convening to review progress, address challenges, and ensure effective implementation of the Mission-300 Energy Compact.
Making remarks, the Deputy Minister for Energy, Charles Umehai, expressed appreciation to all participating institutions and reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to sustained oversight, collaboration, and delivery of improved energy access for all Liberians.
MINISTRY OF MINES AND ENERGY-LIBERIA PUBLIC RELATIONS
For additional informational about the Ministry, visit our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573832151952
PR Unit Contact: +231770902967