A team of experts from West African regional economic grouping the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), said on Tuesday Liberia would need about $1-billion to rehabilitate its power sector, ravaged by long years of civil war.
”Resuscitation of Liberia’s power system requires a lot of funding and also other power sector reform, technical and institutional,” said a seven-member team set up by the 15-member Ecowas.
”About $1-billion would be needed to resuscitate Liberia’s electric power infrastructure, which was destroyed during the civil war,” it said.
It said the resources would be required for preparatory activities and implementation of eight projects, including the development of an electricity master plan for the country.
The team, which was sent in April 2006 following a request for Ecowas assistance by the government, attributed the situation mostly to the plundering of generation, transmission and distribution assets during the war.
The new government of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, which came to power in January, has appealed for international assistance to rebuild the country. — AFP
