President Boakai Oversees Landmark US$26 Million Agreement to Establish Liberia’s First Electrical Manufacturing Plant
The agreement, valued at approximately US$26 million, marks a significant step in Liberia’s drive to strengthen the energy sector, expand industrial capacity, and deepen economic cooperation between Liberia and Kenya.
The proposed facility is expected to manufacture transformers, conductors, switchgear, smart meters, and other electrical materials locally, helping to reduce Liberia’s reliance on imported electrical equipment while improving the efficiency and availability of critical power infrastructure across the country.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, President Boakai described the initiative as a major breakthrough in Liberia’s efforts to modernize and localize its energy infrastructure.
“This represents the beginning of the end of Liberia’s dependence on imported electrical materials,” President Boakai stated. “By producing these materials locally, we will drastically reduce procurement and delivery timelines while creating opportunities for industrial growth and job creation.”
The President noted that reliable energy infrastructure remains central to economic growth, regional integration, and improved living conditions for citizens. He added that the investment positions Liberia to serve not only domestic energy needs but also emerging opportunities within the wider West African market.
President Boakai emphasized that the agreement reflects the broader goals of his Administration to promote industrial development, infrastructure expansion, technology transfer, and private sector investment.
“Liberia is open to business, and my Administration remains committed to creating an environment where credible investors can partner with us in advancing industrial development, infrastructure expansion, technology transfer, and job creation for our people,” the President said.
He furthered that Africa must increasingly focus on manufacturing and value addition within the continent rather than depending heavily on imported finished products.
“This is not just an agreement; it is a pathway to transformation,” the Liberian leader added.
The President also highlighted Liberia’s strategic location and existing regional energy interconnections with neighboring countries, including Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire, noting that the project has the potential to position Liberia as a regional hub for electrical equipment supply within West Africa.
The agreement follows ongoing bilateral engagements between Liberia and Kenya, including high-level discussions between President Boakai and President William S. Ruto, during which electrical manufacturing was identified as a priority area for cooperation.
For his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Thames Electrical Limited welcomed the partnership and expressed appreciation to the Government of Liberia for the confidence placed in the company.
He described the signing as an important milestone and stated that the company remains focused on delivering tangible results through quality service, professionalism, and strong collaboration with Liberian partners.
The CEO further noted that stronger intra-African partnerships remain essential to the continent’s development and expressed hope that the investment would encourage additional Kenyan businesses to explore opportunities in Liberia.
“We will do our best to make Kenya proud in Liberia and ensure that Liberia feels that our countries are not just on the same continent but are like family,” he said.
For his part, the Managing Director of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) - Hon. Mohammed Sheriff—expressed his thanks and noted the importance of such an investment. The MD sheriff added that the investment will significantly shorten procurement time.
