Poor energy access in fragile contexts impedes development, traps people in extreme poverty, and creates structural conditions for the persistence of conflict and social, political, and economic instability. Fragility affects not only those living in these countries – it drives the global challenges of mass migration, terrorism, and trafficking that impact us all.

The brief explains how the IFC in coordination with other development partners, helped to bring private sector participation into the power sector in Liberia by structuring a partnership between the government of Liberia and a private partner. As there was a lack of market appetite for a fully private option, in April 2010, IFC concluded the design and tendering of a five-year management contract for the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), the electricity utility in the capital city of Monrovia.

The Kribi Power Plant Project comprises:

The Dibamba Thermal Power Project comprises of the following components:

• The construction of a 88 MW power plant fuelled with heavy fuel oil (HFO) at the site in Yassa village; and

• The construction of energy transmission facilities, including:

1. (i)  A step-up substation at the plant site (11 to 90 kV) at the plant site; and

2. (ii)  A 1.8 km 90 kV double circuit transmission line between the plant and a connection to existing 90 kV transmission lines which run to Ngodi-Bekoko substation at Bekoko.

As outlined below, this Legal Guide is intended to provide a general introduction and up-to-date overview of certain aspects of the structuring and legal regime for invest- ment in power generation in Iraq. Of special note, the specific nature and location of a project, as well as changes to the Iraqi legal regime, may affect the information included herein. In particular, there may be different regulations and requirements in the Kurdistan region of Iraq which are not covered by this Legal Guide.

The West African nation of Liberia is among the world’s poorest countries. Its two civil wars devastated most of  its infrastructure, economy, and institutions, leaving the Liberian population in extreme poverty. At the end of the second war in 2003, most of the country’s electricity generation, transmission, and distribution assets were destroyed. With support from donors, including USAID and the World Bank, the government began rebuilding its electricity infrastructure through the Emergency Power Programs (2006–12).

This paper reviews the context in which the management contract for Tanesco took place, the goals of the contract, and the evolution of key performance indicators under the contract.

With the assistance of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Government of Liberia awarded a five-year management contract for the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) to Manitoba Hydro International (MHI) of Canada in 2010. With the support of donors, including USAID, Norway, the World Bank and the European Union, the contract aims to rebuild the electricity system in Monrovia and significantly expand access to electricity while improving the operational and financial performance of LEC.

For the first time after nearly 20 years of almost no electricity, the 1.5 million citizens of Monrovia have access to commercial power services thanks to a management-con- tract set up with the assistance of IFC and a group of international donors.

In 1997 Gabon awarded the first real concession in Africa , under a contract that introduced coverage targets for expanding service to previously unconnected rural areas. SEEG, the new concessionaire, offers both water and electricity service, with the electricity business cross-subsidizing the less developed water business. Five years on, the concessionaire has performed well in established service areas, often exceeding targets, but has made less progress in more isolated areas.