IPNEWS-Monrovia: 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 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, about 85% of people living in Monrovia, the Capital of Liberia are lacking hydropower.
Our investigation has unearthed that several circumstances have been responsible for the adequate and effective electricity in and around Monrovia over the period.
Speaking to some communities members and their leaders: the Commissioner of Gardnersville Township Mr. Dave Roberts narrated that several Communities in his Township 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, the LEC receives fees from customers but takes over five years to deliver the meters to 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 with the aim to providing 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 LEC attitude, our goods continue to damage because they can’t survive without current”, Beatrice Sieh a fish seller cry out.
During the end of President Weah County tour in Bentol the Capital City of Montserrado, Citizens raised concerns and demanded the President to electrify Bentol.
“The Mount Coffee power grid is located in Careysburg the district we are part of, it’s so disgusting to see the city of the county, the Nation’s Capital City in darkness without current, Mr. President please see reasons to electrify Bentol”, the Montserrado County Superintendent Ms. Florence Brandy cried out.
At the same time, many traders in Monrovia, especially entertainment centers’ owners, printing presses and also private homes have alarmed that the inadequate hydroelectric power remains the basic challenge to make their transactions easier.
Also surveys conducted have proven that Many top Companies and Offices are spending about 25% of their monthly profits by using their private generator to maintain electricity in their respective facilities.
Meanwhile, a Liberian based in America 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 in the amount of 18.9 million Euros (approximately US $21.5 million) for Lot Two of the Consolidation of Monrovia Electricity Distribution Project to boost the power sector.
Also, to increase Access to Electricity supply in Liberia, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) also granted $257 million to Liberia Compact (2016–2021) aims 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), to build capacity in the utility company, and to establish an independent regulator. The project aims to increase 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 requesting for the amount 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.
