Investment

IFC invests in clean energy for comms in Ethiopia, Liberia and Sierra Leone

IFC invests in clean energy for comms in Ethiopia, Liberia and Sierra Leone

IFC, a global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets and a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), has announced an investment to expand clean and reliable power for telecom networks in three African countries.

The investment, in IPT PowerTech, a leading telecom energy service company, targets Ethiopia, Liberia and Sierra Leone, where limited power supply continues to slow digital connectivity and broader economic participation.

The investment will support the modernisation, operation and maintenance of 2,235 telecom sites across the three countries, more than 90% of which are located in off‑grid or weak‑grid locations. With new solar and battery systems powering these sites, mobile networks will experience fewer outages, improved service quality, and reduced reliance on diesel generators.

IFC says optimising the energy mix is estimated to reduce power costs for operators by up to 30% in Liberia, 26% in Sierra Leone, and 52% in Ethiopia. This transition is also expected to cut emissions by more than 10,624 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) annually.

By improving the quality and stability of power to telecom towers, says IFC, the initiative will strengthen mobile coverage and ensure that households, schools, health centres, and small businesses can depend on more consistent digital services. These improvements will also help operators deliver more affordable services and strengthen economic participation across underserved communities.

In addition, the partnership will also promote gender inclusion by expanding opportunities for women in technical, operational, and leadership roles within the sector.

To enable this expansion, IFC is providing a $45 million corporate financing package consisting of an A Loan of US$27 million and US$18 million in blended finance from the Canada IFC Blended Climate Finance Programme, which aims to mobilise private capital for global climate action and the IDA20 Private Sector Window (IDA PSW) Blended Finance Facility. The IDA PSW was launched in 2017 to catalyse private sector investment in the poorest and most fragile countries.

Beyond financing, IFC will help strengthen the company’s environmental and social practices and reinforce global standards across its operations.

This project advances the World Bank Group and African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide reliable and affordable electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030. It also aligns with the WBG’s Digital Economy for Africa strategy and Country Partnership Framework (CPF) priorities in the three countries.



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