The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has clarified the circumstances surrounding the brief closure of its Waterside Customer Service Center on Tuesday, describing the action as a court-related procedural matter linked to a long-standing contractual dispute with ELTEL Network.
According to a public statement issued by LEC management, the Waterside office was temporarily closed between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon following a court order from the Debt Court of Montserrado County.
The order stemmed from a monetary claim filed by ELTEL Network in the amount of US$415,327.08, including penalties, which ELTEL alleges is owed for materials supplied under a 2011 contract.
LEC explained that the claim traces back to the Monrovia Electricity Grid – Accelerated Transmission and Distribution Expansion Project, a contract signed with ELTEL in 2011 and valued at approximately US$22 million. Under the agreement, ELTEL was to supply and install high- and medium-voltage electrical materials.
The contract was officially executed and closed in 2016.
The Corporation stated that after the contract’s closure—and following three successive management administrations between 2016 and 2022—it received a demand letter from ELTEL claiming more than US$700,000 for materials allegedly supplied under the same agreement.
However, LEC said its internal review found no traceable records, authorizations, or source documentation supporting the alleged transaction.
The Corporation further noted that documents later submitted by ELTEL referenced low-voltage materials, which LEC says fall outside the scope of the original contract that required medium- and high-voltage supplies.
“In the absence of verifiable contractual records and senior-level authorization, LEC could not honor the claim,” the statement said.
LEC disclosed that it engaged ELTEL in mediation efforts in an attempt to establish the factual basis of the claim, including a review of additional documents and authorization procedures.
These efforts, according to LEC, failed to produce evidence validating ELTEL’s assertions.
Following the breakdown of mediation, ELTEL filed an Action of Debt against the Corporation. LEC responded by applying for arbitration, citing provisions within the 2011 contract that require disputes arising from the agreement to be resolved through arbitration.
The Corporation also emphasized that neither the current LEC management team nor the present Government of Liberia has entered into any contractual relationship or transaction with ELTEL Network in connection with the disputed claim.
LEC said the temporary closure of the Waterside Customer Service Center was later lifted after a Justice in Chambers issued a stay order, pending further proceedings related to a Petition for a Writ of Prohibition filed by LEC’s legal team.
Normal operations at the facility have since resumed.
Importantly, LEC stressed that the court action did not affect electricity generation, transmission, or distribution services at any time.
The Corporation said its current management is continuing a comprehensive review of historical records and contractual obligations covering the period 2011 to 2016, with the aim of protecting LEC’s legal and financial interests while ensuring due process.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, LEC assured the public that a more detailed update on the dispute and its legal position will be provided in due course.
LEC also thanked its customers and the general public for their patience and reiterated its dedication to providing reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity services across Liberia.
