NEWS

The Transco CLSG interconnector network is in negotiations with the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and other donors to develop a second transmission line to connect Côte d’Ivoire (CdI), Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, and to overcome problems, including Liberia’s arrears to CdI, which have held up its connection (AE 462/16).

Transco CLSG’s transmission infrastructure includes a double circuit line, with a two-by-243MW line capacity to provide a total 486MW. A single circuit line was energised in December, to launch electricity trading between Guinea, Sierra Leone and CdI within the West African Power Pool (WAPP).

Managing director Mohammed Sherif told African Energy that Transco CLSG was still in negotiations with donor partners to develop the second 243MW transmission line. The “African Development Bank have approached us through the PPP [public/private partnership] arrangement to see how best we can develop the second circuit,” Sherif said.

Liberia has failed to sign on for energy trade on the sub-regional network due to Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC)’s outstanding debt arrears to CdI’s Compagnie Ivoirienne d’Electricité (CIE) (AE 465/20). Liberia owes CIE over $9m in debt arrears for a previous cross-border energy trade agreement.

According to Sherif, Liberia has included in its budget “$14m a month to settle part of the outstanding obligations to Cote d’Ivoire energy.” The budget has also provided a “subsidy to LEC to pay the power purchase agreement and transmission service fees,” he said.

That budget has since been passed and is awaiting implementation.

However, as the Mount Coffee hydroelectric power plant is now maximising its capacity, Liberia is holding off on starting energy trade on the network until the dry season begins. “They don’t see the need at this stage to take on additional electricity while Mount Coffee is producing enough,” Sherif said. 

The Mount Coffee power plant lost a 22MW turbine unit in a fire and has since remained out of service. Plant manager Emile Karnga told African Energy in June that talks continued with the World Bank Group (WGB) for the repair of the damaged unit. Energy and mining minister Gesler Murray told African Energy in early July that the government continued its search for funds.

C&I opening

Transco CLSG is also looking to boost its trading potential by integrating energy sales to private customers on its network.

“ArcelorMittal in Liberia [has] indicated they would be coming on board in Q4 2023 and they will need 73MW,” Sherif told African Energy. In addition, “Kingho Mining needs 88MW – beginning 2024”.

This commercial and industrial (C&I) demand would essentially increase subscription on the first circuit, which according to Transco CLSG has a nominal power transit of 25MW and a peak transit load of 65MW. To help cope with capacity limitations in the network’s operations and maintenance (O&M), Transco CLSG has awarded a four-year O&M contract to French firm RTE. This is expected to take effect in September, once the contract is signed, Sherif said.

A big part of Transco CLSG’s medium-term plan involves the integration of electricity trading with the WAPP into its network. This plan is expected to begin implementation in 2025/26.

Meanwhile, WBG-funded studies are under way to integrate renewable energy sources into the CLSG network.

The Transco CLSG network is funded by the AfDB, European Investment Bank and the WBG.