2010年-世界发展银行全球_Liberias_Infrastructure___A_Continental_Perspective_43页_2mb

报告摘要

Summary of Liberia's Infrastructure: A Continental Perspective

Core Content

This report, Liberia's Infrastructure: A Continental Perspective, is part of the Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic (AICD), a project aimed at assessing and benchmarking infrastructure performance across Sub-Saharan Africa. It provides an in-depth analysis of Liberia's infrastructure challenges and opportunities, emphasizing the need for strategic investment and policy reform to support economic development.

Main Points

Infrastructure Legacy: Liberia's 14-year civil war severely damaged its infrastructure. The power grid and national road network were left in disrepair, with electricity access limited to 0.1% of households in Monrovia and piped water access falling to less than 3% of the population by 2008.
Post-Conflict Recovery: Since the end of the war, Liberia has made progress in several infrastructure sectors. The Freeport of Monrovia is now privately managed and has resumed normal operations. The mobile telephone market has also liberalized, with access rising to 40% in 2009 at very low prices.
Key Sectors: The report evaluates Liberia's performance in six major infrastructure sectors: Roads, Rail, Ports, Air Transport, Water and Sanitation, and Power. It also discusses Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Financing as critical areas for improvement.
Economic Impact: Infrastructure is a key driver of economic growth in Africa. In West Africa, the ICT sector contributed one percentage point to per capita growth, while deficiencies in power and transport infrastructure held growth back by 0.1 percentage points annually. Infrastructure constraints are estimated to account for about 40% of the productivity challenges faced by African firms.
Funding Gap: Liberia's annual infrastructure spending was around $90 million in the mid-2000s, equivalent to 10% of GDP. This is significantly lower than the required $350–$600 million per year to meet infrastructure needs. The report identifies a funding gap of $250–$500 million per year, primarily due to underinvestment in power and transport.
Private Investment Potential: Liberia has a strong track record of attracting private investment, particularly in the ICT sector. The country's natural resources and ongoing concessions may also open opportunities for private financing in power generation, ports, and transport. However, private investment alone may not be sufficient to meet long-term needs.
Time to Recovery: Under current spending and efficiency levels, Liberia would take at least 40 years to achieve its infrastructure targets. However, with increased funding, improved efficiency, and cost-reducing innovations, this timeline could be significantly reduced.

Key Information

Infrastructure Spending Needs:
- Regional Connectivity: 800 km of roads.
- National Connectivity: 1,500 km of roads.
- Rural Connectivity: 5,700 km of roads.
- Urban Connectivity: Extension of paved roads to within 500 meters of population.
Financing Sources:
- Official Development Assistance (ODA) is the largest source of investment.
- Private funds and domestic public investment are also significant.
- Road user charges and fuel levies are proposed to increase funding for maintenance and rehabilitation.
Challenges in Infrastructure Development:
- Low paving ratio: Only 39.4% of primary roads are paved, compared to 71.6% in low-income countries.
- High cost of power generation: $0.77 per kilowatt-hour, which is exceptionally high.
- High power tariffs: $0.43 per kilowatt-hour, three times the African average.
- Inefficient road maintenance: Around $17 million is lost annually due to lack of user charges and underpricing of power.
AICD Methodology:
- Data is collected from 2004 to 2009.
- Technical and financial data is standardized for cross-country comparison.
- The report includes interactive data tools and customizable reports for users to access.
Strategic Priorities:
- Power sector: Needs investment in cost-effective generation and interconnection with the West Africa Power Pool.
- Transport sector: Requires significant capital and maintenance investment.
- ICT and water and sanitation: Need expansion into rural areas and introduction of high-speed internet and low-cost technologies.

Sector-Specific Overview

Sector	Achievements	Challenges
Roads	Donor support has increased, with 1.4% of GDP spent annually.	Spending is still insufficient; a 40% shortfall in capital and maintenance.
Rail	Three privately operated mineral railways totaling 2,600 km.	Limited rail infrastructure; needs expansion and integration with public networks.
Ports	Freeport of Monrovia has resumed operations and matches regional performance.	Need for upgrades to handle growing traffic and proposed concession arrangements.
Air Transport	Improved connectivity and resurgence in air traffic.	Air safety and security remain major concerns.
Power	Minimal power supply restored in Monrovia.	Very low generation capacity (2 MW per million people), high generation and tariff costs.
Water and Sanitation	Relatively low reliance on surface water.	Need for low-cost technologies to improve access and reduce open defecation.
ICT	Competitive market with high mobile penetration and low prices.	Expansion into rural areas and introduction of high-speed internet required.

Conclusion

Liberia's infrastructure remains in a state of significant underdevelopment, with challenges in power, transport, and water and sanitation. However, the country has made notable progress in some sectors and has the potential to attract private investment. The report emphasizes the need for increased funding, improved efficiency, and policy reforms to address the substantial annual funding gap and to enhance national and regional connectivity. The AICD provides a valuable framework for benchmarking and prioritizing infrastructure investments across the continent.

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