Published: July 30, 2026
MONROVIA, Liberia — Liberia has earned continental recognition for its growing leadership in renewable energy development after receiving the Distributed Generation (DG) Rising Star Award during the Sustainable Energy Africa (SEA) Distributed Generation Support Programme Workshop in Cape Town, South Africa.
The award, presented in late June 2026, recognizes African countries making significant progress in developing policies, regulatory frameworks and institutional reforms that promote distributed electricity generation, particularly renewable energy systems that enable households, businesses and institutions to generate electricity closer to where it is consumed.
According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Liberia received the honor in recognition of its sustained efforts to expand renewable energy production, strengthen the country’s electricity regulatory framework and create a more attractive environment for private sector investment in the energy sector.
Liberia was represented at the workshop by Director of Energy Planning, Research and Policy Joebarline S.B. Gbozee, alongside officials from the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) and the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), as well as delegates from several African countries participating in the Distributed Generation Support Programme.
The award underscores the collaborative efforts of Liberia’s key energy institutions, including the Ministry of Mines and Energy, LERC and LEC, which have spent the past year implementing reforms aimed at modernizing the country’s electricity sector.
Among the achievements cited were the development of Liberia’s National Net Metering Policy, led by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, and the validation of the country’s Distributed Generation Regulations by LERC.
The reforms are expected to stimulate greater private sector participation in electricity generation, encourage the installation of customer-owned solar photovoltaic systems and allow households, businesses and public institutions to supply surplus electricity to Liberia’s national grid.
The Liberia Electricity Corporation also played a critical role by providing technical expertise and supporting discussions on the practical implementation of distributed generation and net metering within the country’s power network.
Speaking on the recognition, Director Gbozee described the award as a significant milestone in Liberia’s journey toward expanding access to reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity.
“This recognition is a testament to the strong collaboration among Liberia’s energy sector institutions and partners. The development of the National Net Metering Policy and the advancement of Distributed Generation Regulations are important milestones that will help unlock investment in renewable energy and empower consumers to become active participants in the energy transition,” Gbozee said.
She noted that Liberia’s progress demonstrates the government’s commitment to building an energy sector capable of attracting investment while promoting cleaner and more sustainable sources of electricity.
The Cape Town workshop brought together government officials, regulators, utility companies and energy experts from across Africa to assess progress under the Distributed Generation Support Programme, exchange experiences and identify best practices for implementing distributed energy policies.
The gathering also marked the launch of a new cohort of African countries joining the initiative.
Distributed generation has become an increasingly important component of Africa’s energy transition because it allows electricity to be produced closer to homes, businesses and industries instead of relying solely on large centralized power plants.
Energy experts say the approach improves electricity reliability, reduces transmission losses and accelerates access to electricity, particularly in underserved and rural communities.
Liberia’s latest recognition comes as the country continues implementing reforms aimed at increasing electricity access and diversifying its energy mix through renewable technologies, including solar power and other decentralized energy solutions.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy said the DG Rising Star Award reinforces Liberia’s growing reputation as one of Africa’s emerging leaders in distributed renewable energy development while reflecting the government’s broader commitment to sustainable energy, increased renewable energy deployment and expanded electricity access nationwide.
The Ministry also expressed appreciation to Sustainable Energy Africa, the Distributed Generation Support Programme, the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Liberia Electricity Corporation, development partners and other stakeholders whose continued collaboration has helped advance Liberia’s distributed energy agenda.
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