The Managing Director of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), Mohammed Sheriff, has outlined major progress, challenges, and future plans for the country’s electricity sector, emphasizing the urgent need to combat power theft and expand access nationwide. Speaking Tuesday at the regular press briefing of the Ministry of Information, Sheriff acknowledged the growing demand for electricity and assured Liberians that efforts are ongoing to improve service delivery.
“We feel your pain,” Sheriff said, noting that citizens deserve reliable electricity in their homes, streets, and communities. “My team and I are working tirelessly to meet your demands.” A key concern raised by the LEC boss is widespread power theft, which he warned is significantly undermining the corporation’s revenue. According to him, reducing illegal connections would enable LEC to better support the national budget and improve overall service delivery.
Sheriff disclosed that the Government of Liberia recently paid US$20 million to settle outstanding regional electricity obligations—US$15 million to Côte d’Ivoire, US$3 million to Guinea, and US$3 million to TRANSCO CLSG—highlighting the country’s reliance on regional power-sharing arrangements.
On electricity supply, Sheriff revealed that Liberia currently has a generation capacity of about 88 megawatts (MW), combining domestic production and imported power. Domestic generation stands at approximately 60 MW at night and 40 MW during the day, while LEC imports 50 MW from Côte d’Ivoire and 30 MW from Guinea at a cost of 14 cents per kilowatt-hour.
Despite these challenges, he noted that Liberia has experienced nine months without load shedding,marking a significant improvement in power stability. In terms of expansion, LEC added 63,000 new customers over the past year and replaced 400 transformers,extending electricity access to areas such as Bentol City, Braville, and Boys Town Junction.
Looking ahead, Sheriff outlined key priorities for the corporation, including:
* Increasing domestic power generation to reduce reliance on imports
* Expanding electricity access to Bomi, Grand Bassa, and Grand Cape Mount counties
* Strengthening revenue collection
* Intensifying the fight against power theft
He stressed that regional cooperation remains critical but emphasized that Liberia must boost its own generation capacity to achieve long-term energy security. Sheriff concluded by calling for public cooperation, noting that addressing electricity theft and improving payment compliance are essential to sustaining progress in the sector.
Author: Samuel B. Johnson
