“VP Koung Leads Summit to Fast-Track Liberia’s Renewable Energy Transition”

Monrovia, Liberia: Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, Sr., will host a high-stakes energy sector retreat this weekend at his farm outside Ganta City, Nimba County. The two-day summit, set for February 8–9, 2025, will unite current and former energy leaders, policymakers, technical experts, and private sector stakeholders to forge a actionable strategy aimed at revolutionizing the nation’s power infrastructure.

The retreat, described by the Vice President’s office as “critical to Liberia’s developmental survival,” seeks to align Liberia’s energy future with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development. Central to discussions will be accelerating the transition to renewable energy, addressing systemic policy gaps, and unlocking investments for projects like the St. Paul River 2nd Hydro Power Plant (SP2) and Solar Independent Power Producer (IPP) initiatives.

Key agencies, including the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), and Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA), will spearhead debates on regulatory reforms, grid modernization, and rural electrification. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is also slated to weigh in on balancing ecological safeguards with energy demands.

The summit follows President Boakai’s Executive Order No. 137, which empowers VP Koung to chair a Steering Committee overseeing major renewable energy projects. This retreat is about bridging divides between vision and execution, ensuring every Liberian gains access to reliable, clean energy within this decade.”

With over 80% of Liberia’s population lacking grid electricity, the government faces mounting pressure to deliver solutions. Analysts view the summit as a litmus test for the Boakai administration’s ability to transform rhetoric into tangible progress ahead of 2029 elections.