AN INADEQUATE POWER SUPPLY  UNDERMINES  LIBERIA ECONOMY.

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The Liberia Electricity Cooperation  is a public  agency that’s wholly and  solely responsible  for providing power supply in the Country. 

After  the 14 years devastating Civil war that  left the facility damaged  and  brought   serious  challenges in the grid sector,  Citizens continue to struggle  for adequate power supply. 

 Even Though  several efforts  have been made by  Foreign  donors  in so many sectors of the Country including:  LEC among others  to reconstruct the Nation, about 85% of  people living in the Capital of Liberia “Monrovia”  are lacking  hydropower. 

Our investigation has unearthed that  several  circumstances  have been responsible  for the adequate and effective  electricity  in and around  Monrovia over the period. 

Speaking to some Communities Members and their Leaders:  the  Commissioner of   Garnersville Township  Mr. Dave Roberts  narrated that,  several Communities in his Township  regularly  experience  power outages   due  to wrong connections  that have damaged many transformers and Meters,  while many others continue  to struggle  to receive  Meters they have paid for.

He noted,   the LEC  receives fees from customers which  takes over five years  to deliver  the meters to them.

Even Though,  partners like; Millennium Challenge Cooperation  and European Union among others  have  spent   hundreds of Millions   to  reconstruct  the Mount Coffee  Power Plan  aiming at providing  adequate  power supply,  the  power outage  has  become the order of the day in and around the Liberian Capital.

“We are tired and sick  of LEC attitude,  our  goods continue  to damage because  the can’t survive   without  current”,   Beatrice  Sieh  a fish Mongar

(seller) cry out.

During  the end of President  Weah County tour in Bentol the Capital City  of Montserrado,  Citizens  raised concerns  demanding  the President  to electrify  Bentol.

“The Mount  Coffee power grid  is located in Careysburg the district  we are part of,  it’s  so disgusting  to see  to the  City of the County the Nation’s Capital City  lies  without  Current, Mr. President please see reasons  to electrify  Bentol”, the Montserrado  County Superintendent  Ms. Florence  Brandy  cries out.

At the same time,  many traders  in Monrovia, especially  entertainment  Centers owners,  printing presses and also private homes  have alarmed    that the inadequate hydroelectric power  remains the basic challenge  to make their  transactions   easier. 

Also surveys  conducted  have proven that  Many top Companies  and Offices  are spending  about 25% of their monthly  profits by using  their private generator to  maintain  electricity  in their respective  facilities.

Meanwhile, a Liberian based America who operates  the Jessy Bar entertainment in Paynesville outside Monrovia, Mr. Peter massaquoi    has   raised  concerns  about the poor current system  and said,  it’s one of  the reasons  why many people are afraid  to invest  in Liberia.

On Thursday, October 6, 2018,the Government of Liberia and the European Union signed a grant agreement in the amount of 18.9 million Euros (approximately US $21.5 million) for Lot Two of the Consolidation of Monrovia Electricity Distribution Project to boost  the power sector.

Also, to  increase Access to Electricity supply  in Liberia, the Millennium  Challenge  Corporation (MCC) also  grants  $257 million to Liberia Compact (2016–2021) aims to encourage economic growth and reduce poverty by improving access to reliable and affordable electricity.

The Compact funded the $202 million Energy Project to generate low-cost power by rehabilitating the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant (MCHPP), to build capacity in the utility company, and to establish an independent regulator. The project aims to increase production and distribution of lower cost, quality electricity, reduce tariffs and user costs, and connect Liberians to affordable electric power.

However,   a Freedom of information ( FOI)  request was filed   to the Liberia  Electricity Cooperation  on March 3, 2021 requesting    for the amount of transformers and meters  they have procured from 2018 to 2021,  how many customers have applied for them and how many they have served   but yet to respond.

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