In Liberia, Linsay Smith takes the helm of Maifrance Solar Limited, becoming the first woman to lead a solar sector company in a country where women remain underrepresented in decision-making roles.
Linsay K. N. Smith has been appointed chief executive officer of Maifrance Solar Limited, a Liberian company specializing in solar equipment since its founding in 2023. She becomes the first woman to lead a solar sector company in Liberia, according to local media reports on March 31. The renewable energy sector is expanding steadily worldwide, as demonstrated by Lithuania reaching 6 GW of installed wind and solar capacity.
Linsay Smith succeeds James K. Smith, the company’s founder, who led it since its inception. Before her appointment, she served as chief operating officer within the same organization. She was involved in managing operations and overseeing projects since the company’s launch, which provides domestic solar systems, mini-grids and equipment for areas not connected to Liberia’s national grid. This type of equipment is also attracting institutional investors in other regions, as seen in Croatia, where HEP and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) are backing 56 MW of solar and 36 MW of wind projects.
The appointment represents an internal leadership transition since the company’s founding, as reported by FrontPage Africa. It reflects the gradual development of the private solar energy sector in Liberia. Companies active in this market operate in a country where electricity access remains limited, particularly in rural areas.
According to UN Women, women held 11% of local decision-making positions in Liberia in 2025, compared with 8.5% in 2017. Globally, their share stands at 32% of full-time jobs in renewable energy, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The agency considers gender equality a driver of the energy transition.
According to the World Bank, 32.5% of Liberia’s population had access to electricity in 2023. That figure reaches 52.7% in urban areas and drops to 9.3% in rural areas, according to Africa Energy Portal. Off-grid solar installed capacity in the country was estimated at 3.4 MW in 2023, according to IRENA’s 2024 Renewable Capacity Statistics.
The National Energy Compact for Liberia, the country’s official energy policy document, sets a rural electrification target of 35% by 2030. It plans to deploy domestic solar systems and mini-grids to meet these objectives. Maifrance Solar’s activities align with this scope, which the company has been developing since 2023.
Global renewable capacity surpassed 5,149 GW in 2025 with 692 GW of new additions, 75% driven by solar energy, according to IRENA. Regional disparities persist despite a record exp
Grupo Carrefour Brasil and Casa dos Ventos have signed a one-billion-real solar supply deal to power Atacadão, Carrefour and Sam's Club stores across Brazil.
A study commissioned by Green Planet Energy identifies 90 districts where Germany's planned grid package would jeopardize 23 GW of wind, 9.2 GW of solar and €45 billion in investme

source