IPNEWS: The Liberia Electricity Cooperation (LEC) is a public agency that’s wholly and solely responsible for providing power supply in the Country.
After the 14 years of devastating Civil war that left the facility damaged and brought serious challenges in the power grid sector, Citizens continue to struggle for adequate power supply.
Even though several efforts have been made by foreign donors in so many sectors of the Country including LEC, among others to reconstruct the Nation’s power grid, about 85% of Monrovia inhabitants in the Liberian Capital are lacking power.
Our investigation has unearthed that several circumstances have been responsible for adequate and effective electricity in and around Monrovia over the period.
Speaking to some community members and their leaders: one of the community leaders in Paynesville outside Monrovia, only identified as Dave Benson, narrated that several Communities in his city regularly experience power outages due to wrong connections that have damaged many Transformers and Meters, while many others continue to struggle to receive Meters they have paid for.
He noted, that the LEC received meter payments from customers which took over five years to deliver the meters to those who applied for them
Even Though partners like; Millennium Challenge Cooperation and European Union among others, have spent hundreds of Millions to reconstruct the Mount Coffee Power Plant to provide adequate power supply, the power outage has become the order of the day in and around the Liberian Capital.
“We are tired and sick of the LEC attitude, our goods continue to damage because they can’t survive without current“, Beatrice Sieh, a fish Monger (Seller) at Waterside market cried out.
At the same time, many traders in Monrovia, especially entertainment Center owners, printing presses, and also private homes, have been alarmed that the inadequacy and ineffectiveness of hydroelectric power remain the basic challenge to making their transactions easier.
Also, surveys conducted have proven that many Companies and Offices are spending about 25% of their monthly profits on their private generators to maintain electricity in their respective facilities.
Meanwhile, a Liberia-based American who operates the Jessy Bar entertainment in Paynesville outside Monrovia, Mr. Peter Massaquoi has raised concerns about the poor current system and said, it’s one of the reasons why many people are afraid to invest in Liberia.
On Thursday, October 6, 2018, the Government of Liberia and the European Union signed a grant agreement of 18.9 million Euros (approximately US$21.5 million) for Lot Two of the Consolidation of Monrovia Electricity Distribution Project to stabilize the Nation’s electricity situation.
To increase access to Electricity in Liberia, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) also granted $257 million to Liberia Compact (2016–2021) to encourage economic growth and reduce poverty by improving access to reliable and affordable electricity.
The Compact funded the $202 million Energy Project to generate low-cost power by rehabilitating the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant (MCHPP), building capacity in the utility company, and establishing an independent regulator. The project aims to increase the production and distribution of lower-cost, quality electricity, reduce tariffs and user costs, and connect Liberians to affordable electric power.
However, a Freedom of information (FOI) request was filed to the Liberia Electricity Cooperation on March 3, 2021, by FOI investigative Journalist Fellow, Joseph Tumbey requesting the number of transformers and meters they have procured from 2018 to 2021, how many customers have applied for them and how many they have served but yet to respond.
Upon receiving the FOI request letter, the security assigned at the Managing Director’s office who failed to disclose her name informed the Journal, not to email nor call in to make a follow-up.
According to the FOI law, all public Institutions are mandated to provide public information intended for public consumption to Citizens at any time it’s needed upon, but the Liberia Electricity Cooperation is yet to comply with the law.
