The Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has signed a treaty paving the way for a US$418mn power project.

The West African Power Pool (WAPP) will see 1,360km of transmission line run to the country from the Ivory Coast, as well as the construction of four power stations along the Liberia – Sierra Leone border.

WAPP will be funded by the African Development Bank (US$133mn), the World Bank (US$132mn), European Investment Bank (US$94mn) and the benefitting countries (US$4mn).

The 225KW transmission line will run from Man in the Ivory Coast, through Linsan in Guinea, before completing in Yekepa, Liberia. It’s anticipated that WAPP will be capable of generating a maximum of 325KVA of electrical current.

The groundwork for the project was undertaken by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas). The work will be completed by a special purpose company, created by Ecowas, and will commence immediately, to be completed by 2016.

Liberian president Sirleaf described WAPP as an “outcome of an important partnership” and expressed her gratitude to the organisers at Ecowas.