By G. Watson Richards
The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has acknowledged growing public frustration over persistent power outages, assuring citizens that efforts are underway to stabilize and improve electricity supply across the country.
Phoning in on the OK Morning Rush Wednesday, LEC head Philip Farley emphasized that management is fully aware of the challenges faced by customers and is actively working toward both immediate and long-term solutions.
“The management understands that electricity supply remains a major concern amongst the general public. I can safely state that the management is fully aware and cognizant and sensitive to those concerns, especially as regards to power outages,” Farley said.
He explained that Liberia’s electricity sector is still developing and requires sustained capital investment and time to reach stability comparable to global standards.
According to Farley, LEC has adopted a strategic plan spanning 2025 to 2030, outlining short-term, medium-term, and long-term interventions aimed at strengthening the country’s energy infrastructure.
A major factor affecting electricity reliability, he noted, is Liberia’s heavy reliance on imported power.
“Seventy percent of the electricity we supply to Liberia is from and through our regional partners,” Farley stated, adding that such dependence is necessary due to limited domestic infrastructure. That means 70 percent of the electricity comes from the CLSG arrangement, and if these countries have issues, it’s going to affect our electricity supply.”
Currently, Liberia imports approximately 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity from Côte d’Ivoire and an additional 30 MW from Guinea. This comes at a time when national demand has surged significantly, with peak consumption rising from 96 MW to 165 MW.
Farley stressed that these external dependencies make the national grid vulnerable to disruptions originating outside Liberia’s control.
Nonetheless, he assured the public that LEC is actively working on measures to address these challenges and improve service delivery.
He concluded by appealing for public understanding and patience as the corporation implements its strategic initiatives.
“We call on the public to remain patient as we work modalities to resolve these power outage issues,” he said.
LEC’s long-term plan is expected to include investments in domestic generation capacity and infrastructure upgrades aimed at reducing reliance on imported electricity and ensuring a more stable power supply for Liberia’s growing energy needs.
