The Ministry of Mines and Energy, in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has launched a high-level training workshop aimed at strengthening Liberia’s energy data management capacity.
The four-day training, taking place in Monrovia, focuses on the implementation and use of the Computerized Energy Information System (EIS) — a critical tool for modernizing the country’s energy sector through data-driven planning, informed policymaking, and enhanced transparency.
The training commenced on Monday, June 30, 2025, and will conclude on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The opening session brought together ECOWAS energy experts and Liberian stakeholders, signaling a strong regional commitment to supporting energy governance and sustainable development across member states.
Speaking on behalf of Mines and Energy Minister Wilmot Paye, Deputy Minister for Energy, Charles Umehai, lauded ECOWAS for its technical and institutional support. He emphasized the importance of building a resilient data infrastructure that enables accurate collection, analysis, and use of energy information to guide national development priorities.
“A robust energy information system is a cornerstone for effective policy formulation, sector planning, and resource management,” said Umehai. “This initiative marks a major step toward aligning Liberia’s energy strategy with international best practices.”
Delivering remarks on behalf of ECOWAS, Dr. Nathaniel B. Walker, Early Warning Focal Point at the ECOWAS Representative Office, commended Liberia’s proactive engagement in regional capacity-building efforts.
He reaffirmed ECOWAS’s commitment to supporting its member states in strengthening institutional frameworks and technical competencies within the energy sector.
Day one of the workshop featured an intensive technical session led by international Energy Information System (EIS) expert, Mr. Salim Chitou. His presentation, titled “Secrets of Effective Data Collection,” introduced participants to foundational principles of data governance, collection methodologies, and the strategic importance of integrating reliable data into national energy planning frameworks.
Mr. Chitou concluded the day with a detailed case study on “Data Collection and Processing,” in which he underscored the necessity of a comprehensive and secure information base to support meaningful energy reforms. He emphasized that data quality, security, retention, and management are fundamental components of a modern energy sector.
The training includes participation from a wide cross-section of Liberia’s energy ecosystem—comprising utilities, regulatory agencies, sectoral institutions, and private sector energy service providers—each of which interacts with and contributes to national energy data flows.
The initiative will culminate on Friday, July 4, with the official national launch of the Energy Information System (EIS) in Liberia. The event will be officiated by the Minister of Mines and Energy, Wilmot Paye, and is expected to attract key government officials, development partners, and stakeholders across the energy landscape.
The program’s National Coordinator, Prince C. Wilson, who serves as Assistant Director for Off-Grid Electricity and Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, is leading local coordination efforts to ensure effective implementation of the EIS.
This training and system launch represent a critical step toward operationalizing a unified and data-centric approach to energy management in Liberia, in line with regional and global energy development goals.
