Line route and impact studies for 650-km transmission line from Cote d'Ivoire to Liberia

Despite the recovery of Liberia’s electricity sector following two civil wars, only 4.9% of the country is electrified – one of the lowest rates in Africa. To meet the need for increased electrification in the West African sub-region, the West African Power Pool (WAPP) has commissioned Tractebel and partners to carry out the line route studies for up to 650 km of new transmission lines, the selection of four substation sites, and the environmental and social impact assessment studies including resettlement studies.

Connecting Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia with four new substations
The new 225 kV transmission line will connect the cities of San Pedro in Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) with Buchanan and Greenville in Liberia, plus the future 220 MW hydroelectric project on the Cavally River between the two countries. A consortium led by Tractebel in France has been set up with our Ivoirian subsidiary Tractebel Engineering Cote d’Ivoire (TECI), and Liberian partner FARMMS Engineering. Tractebel and partners will identify eligible sites for the four new substations and a route for the double circuit transmission line, with a 40 m-wide corridor, connecting these substations. Additionally, a rural electrification program will be conducted to identify eligible communities and connect three communities in each country.

The project is funded by the African Development Bank under the NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD-IPPF) Special Fund and coordinated by the WAPP in collaboration with CI-ENERGIES (CI-E) in Ivory Coast, Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) in Liberia, and the governments of both countries. The mandate began in May 2023 and is expected to run through November2024.

Prioritizing people and natural habitats
In determining the transmission line routes, minimizing environmental and socio-economic impact is a main objective. The study area includes three national parks in Liberia covering close to 4,000 km², two classified forests in Ivory Coast (3,000 km²) and key biodiversity areas covering 7,550 km². For the populated areas that may be affected, exhaustive surveys will be conducted along each proposed route to reduce any impact on inhabitants. Public consultations will be held at the national, regional, departmental and village scales to understand and consider stakeholder viewpoints.

Extensive public consultations are planned in affected regions

Tractebel will lead all studies, consisting of the line route studies, the environmental and social impact assessment studies and management plans, plus direct a large pool of biodiversity experts and sociologists. Eleven field trips are planned to identify the best route for each line, to engage with project stakeholders and thoroughly evaluate the impacts of the project.

The project is being designed with the lowest possible carbon footprint 

“The transmission lines connecting Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia will greatly facilitate power exchanges across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sub-region. The expanded electrical network will enhance the lives of many, in Liberia in particular, where most people still cannot afford or do not have access to electricity. While focusing on the benefits to the people, our design and E&S studies also aim to avoid any disturbances to sensitive natural environments. The West African Power Pool requires a low carbon footprint design, so our teams are keen on driving this project which reflects our purpose of engineering a carbon-neutral future.”  

Jean-Luc Pigeon, Tractebel Project Manager

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