Mines: ‘’National Energy Policy Premiering On Boakai’s 2025 Agenda’’

BUCHANAN-Liberia’s Minister of Mines and Energy, Wilmot Paye, has told participants reviewing the Country’s National Energy Policy, (NEP), that the document which is significant to driving national development is a priority concern to the President, Joseph Nyuma Boakai. Addressing a cross-section of energy sector stakeholders convening in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, that the 2009 instrument visited already by a number of reviews over the year, has the attention of the President, “The President is eagerly awaiting this national energy policy to conclude on it and make it part of his 2025 legislative agenda.”

Speaking to efforts participants have exerted in working around finalizing review processes of the Energy Policy, Minister Paye commended all sector institutions for strategic roles played to make the Buchanan sitting a success. The Mines and Energy Minister welcomed propositions the stakeholders derived from the three-day knowledge-sharing interactions and assured the nation that the revised National Energy Policy, and recommendations proffered to amend the Mining Law of 2000, will be submitted to President Boakai for legislative action.

Further expounding on bringing to all legal instruments the Ministry of Mines and Energy relies on to keep the mining and energy sectors vibrant, Paye divulged that the Electricity Law of 2015, is also under the radar and intimated that it will be reviewed. The 2015 Electricity Law positions the Ministry of Mines and Energy as ‘Sector-lead’. Localizing his leadership perspective on such policy undertakings, the Mines and Energy Boss admonished Liberians to maximize and demonstrate their professional capacities to own-up to their Country’s development modules. “Because Liberia is unique, and not other country can be ‘Liberia’, see your development template as one that should be determined by you, and not any global standards.”

In further emphasis, Paye said: “people are experts of their own destiny,” calling on Liberian professionals to rise above downplaying their relevance in terms of contributing to policy formulations that directly affect them as a people and country. In what participants described as a fresh ingredient to policy strengthening in the energy sector, the Minister of Mines and Energy, Wilmot Paye, said there will be annual implementation technical team review of the National Energy Policy. He intoned that for too long, policies put in place to address important national issues face challenges due to lack of regular reassessment to measure performance.

The energy stakeholders made their response to the validation workshop’s proceedings through Cllr. Minnie Paegar-Kallon. She thanked the sector lead – Mines and Energy for professional coordination during before and during the interactive sessions. Cllr. Paegar-Kallon was one of two representatives from the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC). National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL_, through its Vice President for Technical Services, Rixck Barsigiah, directed his remarks to encouraging all energy sector entities to ensure that at such national undertakings, they should have some of their top officials in attendance.

Mr. Barsigiah said, presence of his fellow top-brass at such high-level policy formulation initiatives of the government gives additional motivation to the tasks at hand, and promote dedication and commitment towards the overarching goal of the government, in the interest of the Country. The Deputy Minister for Energy, Charles Umehai, supervised and coordinated the NEP revisioin exercise, whilst the deliberations were chaired by NOCAL’s technical Vice President, Rixck Barsigiah.