Liberia is bracing for significant power shortages after the Compagnie Ivoirienne d’Électricité (CIE) of Côte d’Ivoire, a primary electricity supplier under a Power Purchase Agreement, reduced its power delivery to the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) by 85%. This reduction has decreased the supply from 50 megawatts (MW) to just 7.5 MW, severely impacting thousands of households, businesses, and essential services in Monrovia and surrounding regions.
In response, the LEC has activated its thermal power plant to mitigate the shortfall. However, officials caution that this measure offers limited relief due to critically low water levels at the Mt. Coffee Hydropower Plant, further constraining electricity generation. Consequently, residents and businesses should prepare for extended blackouts beyond the usual load-shedding schedules.
The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) has expressed concern over the acute power outages and has mandated the LEC to fully utilize its thermal plant to minimize the duration of blackouts. Additionally, the LERC urges the implementation of the Power Purchase Agreement between LEC and CIE to increase supply from 27 MW to 50 MW as stipulated for the contract year 2024. 
The LEC acknowledges the challenges posed by the current situation and is in constant communication with CIE to resolve the issue. The corporation has assured the public that it will provide timely updates as more information becomes available. In the meantime, consumers are advised to conserve power, explore alternative energy sources where possible, and stay informed about further developments.
This development underscores the fragility of Liberia’s energy infrastructure and highlights the need for diversified energy sources to ensure a stable and reliable power supply for the nation’s socio-economic activities.
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