Boakai Oversees US$26 Million Deal to Build Liberia’s First Electrical Manufacturing Plant - FrontPageAfrica

NAIROBI, Kenya – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. has overseen the signing of a landmark US$26 million Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of Liberia, through the Liberia Electricity Corporation, and Kenya-based Thames Electrical Limited for the establishment of Liberia’s first electrical manufacturing plant.

The agreement, signed on the margins of the Africa Forward Summit 2026 in Nairobi on Tuesday, marks a major milestone in Liberia’s push to strengthen its energy sector, expand industrialization, and deepen economic cooperation with Kenya.

According to an Executive Mansion release, the proposed facility will manufacture transformers, conductors, switchgears, smart meters, and other electrical materials locally — a move expected to significantly reduce Liberia’s dependence on imported electrical equipment while improving the efficiency and availability of critical power infrastructure nationwide.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, President Josephl Boakai described the initiative as a 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 declared. “By producing these materials locally, we will drastically reduce procurement and delivery timelines while creating opportunities for industrial growth and job creation.”

The Liberian leader emphasized that reliable energy infrastructure remains central to economic growth, regional integration, and improved living conditions for citizens. He added that the investment could position Liberia to serve not only domestic energy demands but also emerging opportunities within the wider West African market.

President Boakai said the agreement aligns with his administration’s broader agenda 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,” he stated.

Boakai further stressed the need for Africa to prioritize manufacturing and value addition on the continent rather than relying heavily on imported finished goods.

“This is not just an agreement; it is a pathway to transformation,” the President added.

He also highlighted Liberia’s strategic geographic position and its growing regional energy interconnections with neighboring countries, including Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire, noting that the project could eventually establish Liberia as a regional hub for electrical equipment supply in West Africa.

The agreement follows ongoing bilateral engagements between Liberia and Kenya, including recent high-level discussions between President Boakai and William Samoei 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 thanked the Liberian Government for its confidence in the company.

He described the signing as a major milestone and pledged the company’s commitment to delivering quality service through professionalism and strong collaboration with Liberian partners.

The CEO also emphasized the importance of stronger intra-African partnerships in driving the continent’s development and expressed hope that the investment would encourage more 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.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of the Liberia Electricity Corporation, Hon. Mohammed Sheriff, welcomed the investment and underscored its significance to Liberia’s energy sector. He noted that local manufacturing would significantly shorten procurement timelines for critical electrical materials and equipment. 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. MD Sheriff added that the investment will make procurement time significantly shorter.