YANDOHUN, Feb 22 (LINA) - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has dedicated a 60kw micro-hydro power plant in Yandohun Town, Kolahun District in Lofa County. The newly designed
micro-hydro power plant estimated to cost US$540,000 was constructed by the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA), with funding from the World Bank.
According to the Liberia News Agency, the objective of the project is to facilitate and accelerate the economic transformation of rural Liberia, by promoting commercial development and supply of modern energy service to rural areas, with locally available resources.
Performing the dedicatory ceremony in Yandohun Town Wednesday, President Sirleaf thanked the World Bank for its assistance to the Liberian people, especially the provision of basic social services.
The Liberian leader also thanked the Management of Rural Renewable Energy Agency for undertaking the construction of the hydro.
President Sirleaf reminded citizens and residents of the area that it was in their best interest to maintain the power plant, adding that the construction of the power plant was part of government's effort to improve the livelihood of citizens, especially rural residents.
In remarks at the program, Lofa County Senior Senator Sumo Kupee and Lofa County Superintendent George Dunor thanked the Liberian Government and the World Bank on behalf of the people of Lofa County, and urged the citizens to properly utilize the hydro power plant.
It can be recalled that on May 21, 2008, President Johnson Sirleaf approved Minister Eugene Shannon's request to establish a prototype Rural and Renewable Energy Agency RREA within the Ministry of Lands Mines and Energy, following the institution of the first ever national Energy Policy in the country.
In January 2010, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf issued Executive Order Number 23 establishing the RREA with the objective of facilitating and accelerating the economic transformation of rural Liberia by promoting the commercial development and supply of electricity. The Yandohun micro hydro power plant was constructed by a Peace Corps
Volunteer, Gary Duncan, in 1979, but was destroyed during the Liberian civil war.
Following a feasibility study by Fanny Missfeldt-Ringius of the World Bank, Kristin Stroup of Energy & Security Group and Augustus V. Goanue of the prototype RREA in 2009, the World Bank subsequently approved the funding.
LINA KKG/PSN/TSS/PTK