| Company | Global Logistics Services Inc (GLS Group) |
| Sector | Bulk Storage / Logistics |
| Country | Liberia |
| Total Project Cost | USD 10.3m |
| PIDG Commitment |
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| Dates of PIDG involvement |
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Liberia largely depends on imports to fuel its small but expanding economy. The Freeport of Monrovia is Liberia’s main international entry point to its capital city, where 90 per cent of the country’s economic activity takes place.
Despite significant investment into port and road infrastructure in recent years, there is an identified shortage of storage and other logistics infrastructure required to complement the import supply and export value chains, and ensure trade is handled efficiently. Without such infrastructure, costs increase exponentially, businesses struggle to export their products in a timely fashion, and delays exist in delivering basic food supplies, livestock and animal products to Liberia’s consumers.
The Liberia Inland Storage Facility (LISF) is Liberia’s first commercial open-access, storage facility. The project is situated within the Monrovia Industrial Park, located 10 kilometres from the Freeport of Monrovia, and provides businesses with approximately 4,600m² of modern warehousing space.
Incorporating state-of-the-art inventory management systems, loading and unloading capacity, the LISF is the first of its kind to meet the needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and larger companies within the Mano River Union. The facility operates on a throughput model, with importers/exporters, businesses and third-party logistics companies securing flexible access to storage space via short to medium-term contracts.
LISF’s rooftop solar energy system maximises energy efficiency, reduces overall dependence on diesel, and cuts carbon emissions. It is anticipated that it will provide a replicable model for similar facilities in the region, with potential to drive down sector emissions.
LISF’s flexible design allows for the inclusion of alternative storage solutions in the future – such as temperature-controlled capacity for the storage of food and pharmaceutical products – to meet the evolving needs of Liberia’s growing population.
It is anticipated that, by providing SMEs with access to high-quality, secure storage, the LISF will significantly reduce supply chain losses currently incurred due to expiry, spoilage and theft of goods, stabilising prices and contributing to Liberia’s wider economic growth.
Technical assistance was secured to carry out a pre-feasibility study assessing the power needs of the facility. PIDG then provided the concessional capital required to supply and install a rooftop solar-hybrid system that serves as the primary source of power to the facility.
