Power Outages Hit Liberia: LEC Cites Regional Supply Constraints
By: Rufus Divine Brooks Jr. – rufusbrooks091@gmail.com
Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has pushed back against growing public frustration and online criticism over recent power outages, attributing the disruptions to scheduled maintenance at regional power facilities and firmly rejecting claims of internal mismanagement.
In a detailed press statement released Monday, the national power utility sought to clarify the true causes behind the intermittent electricity supply affecting homes and businesses across Monrovia and connected areas.
The statement comes amid rising public speculation—particularly on social media—that recent failures signal a reversal of earlier progress in the country’s long-troubled energy sector.
The LEC emphasized that the relative improvement in power reliability over the past nine months was not merely a product of favorable weather conditions during the rainy season, as some analysts have suggested.
Instead, it pointed to “enhanced operational discipline, improved system coordination, and consistent regional electricity imports” as the real drivers behind the gains.
“Let us be clear: the rainy season complemented, but did not create, the stability in power supply we’ve seen,” the statement read.
“Liberia’s demand for electricity continues to outstrip domestic generation, and rainfall alone has never been—and will never be—sufficient to power the nation.”
According to the LEC, the Mt. Coffee Hydropower Plant has contributed approximately 57 megawatts (MW) to the national grid, while domestic thermal plants have added another 12 MW, totaling 69 MW of local capacity.
However, national demand now stands at 130 MW—an increase from 94 MW when the current LEC leadership took charge in January 2024—leaving a significant 61 MW gap.
This shortfall has been bridged through electricity imports from neighboring Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea via the West African Power Pool (WAPP). These imports, the LEC explained, have been instrumental in maintaining near-continuous supply over recent months.
Outages Linked to Regional Maintenance
The current wave of power interruptions, the corporation clarified, stems from scheduled maintenance works at power generation facilities in both Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea. These operations—routine and standard across the global energy industry—have temporarily reduced the volume of electricity available for export to Liberia and other subregional importers.
“As participating members of the regional electricity market, we are all interconnected and equally affected by disruptions or maintenance on shared infrastructure,” the LEC said. “These outages are not due to LEC’s mismanagement but are a ripple effect of regional technical activities beyond our direct control.”
The corporation confirmed it was notified in advance of the maintenance schedules but noted that alternative power sources could not be mobilized in time due to the long lead times required for new generation projects.
Denial of Broken Promises
Amid mounting public skepticism, the LEC denied allegations that it had misled citizens or failed to deliver on earlier commitments to stabilize the power supply.
“We understand the frustration,” the statement acknowledged. “Power outages affect hospitals, small businesses, and homes, and we do not take these disruptions lightly.
But it is critical that the narrative reflect reality: what we are experiencing now is a temporary constraint, not a collapse of system integrity.”
The LEC also highlighted years of systemic underinvestment in Liberia’s energy infrastructure, which have left the country heavily reliant on external power sources. Addressing this, the corporation said, requires long-term planning—not short-term blame.
“New power projects take an average of 18 months to plan and execute,” the statement noted. “The progress we’ve made must not be undermined by misinformation that paints temporary challenges as total failure.”
Path Forward: Energy Sovereignty Agenda
Looking ahead, the LEC outlined several initiatives underway under the government’s broader energy sovereignty agenda.
These include plans to diversify Liberia’s energy mix, onboard new Independent Power Producers (IPPs), expand solar and thermal generation capacity, strengthen the transmission and distribution grid, and improve coordination with regional partners.
The corporation also called on the public to rely on verified information from official channels rather than rumors circulating online.
“Mischaracterizing supply constraints as systemic failure only hinders honest dialogue about how to fix our energy future,” the LEC warned. “Our progress so far has restored public and investor confidence, leading to higher consumption—ironically widening the supply gap. But this demand is a sign of trust, not failure.”
Calls for Patience and Partnership
In closing, LEC management expressed appreciation for the public’s engagement while urging patience and cooperation.
“We share the nation’s desire for 24/7 electricity,” the statement concluded. “But achieving that goal requires understanding, investment, and time. We remain committed to transparency and to doing everything within our power—literally and figuratively—to keep Liberia energized.”
Residents across Monrovia told reporters they welcomed the clarification but stressed the need for more consistent communication during outages, especially when critical services are affected.
The LEC has promised to provide weekly updates on grid performance and regional import status moving forward.
