Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has unveiled an ambitious plan to enhance the country’s energy infrastructure with funding from the World Bank.
The project, set to launch in March 2025 and conclude by March 2026, will significantly boost electricity generation, bringing total capacity to 138 megawatts.
By incorporating hydro-solar technology, the initiative is expected to improve power reliability and reduce seasonal shortages that have long hindered Liberia’s economic and social progress.
This announcement comes amid one of the worst electricity crises in recent years. On February 5, 2025, LEC revealed that it was drastically cutting supply following an emergency directive from Compagnie Ivoirienne d’Électricité (CIE), Liberia’s primary electricity provider from Côte d’Ivoire.
Due to urgent maintenance and production constraints, CIE has slashed its power exports by 85 percent, reducing its supply to Liberia from 50 to just 7.5 megawatts. The sudden shortfall has plunged Monrovia and its surrounding areas into near-total darkness.
The impact has been devastating, leaving homes, businesses, hospitals, and essential services struggling to cope with prolonged outages. LEC has activated its thermal power plant to bridge the gap in response. However, officials caution that the measure offers only limited relief, as the Mt. Coffee Hydropower Plant remains severely strained due to low water levels. With demand far exceeding supply, authorities have introduced extended load-shedding schedules, warning residents to prepare for continued blackouts.
Despite the immediate crisis, the LEC remains optimistic about the long-term benefits of the World Bank-backed expansion. By shifting towards a hybrid hydro-solar system, Liberia aims to reduce its dependence on imported electricity and create a more resilient energy infrastructure. The corporation assured the public that negotiations with CIE are ongoing to restore stability as soon as possible. In the meantime, LEC urges citizens to exercise patience as efforts continue to find lasting solutions to the country’s chronic power challenges.
