MONROVIA, LIBERIA – In a detailed and revealing press conference held on January 10, 2025, at the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) headquarters, Managing Director Engr. Thomas Z. Gonkerwon reaffirmed the corporation’s commitment to resolving Liberia’s critical energy challenges. Marking 42 days since the Interim Management Team assumed office, MD Gonkerwon highlighted LEC’s dedication to transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in steering the nation’s energy sector toward growth and sustainability.
The Interim Management Team’s primary focus, Gonkerwon noted, has been a comprehensive overhaul of LEC’s governance, financial processes, operational efficiencies, and energy supply strategies. “We are committed to addressing the critical challenges of sustainable energy supply and distribution,” he declared. This approach aligns with Liberia’s ARREST Agenda, emphasizing reforms across key operational pillars to improve service delivery and national development.
Upon taking office, the new management team conducted a rigorous review of the handover notes from the previous administration. This assessment identified areas requiring immediate intervention to refine ongoing initiatives and introduce innovative strategies aimed at optimizing the corporation’s performance. A three-pronged approach was launched, targeting governance and financial processes, commercial and technical efficiencies, and energy supply.
A significant milestone, according to Gonkerwon, is the establishment of LEC’s first-ever Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) Framework. Designed to align with international best practices, the framework seeks to enhance financial accountability, risk management, and compliance. Collaboration with the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) has also commenced, involving a thorough audit of LEC’s financial systems and workflows.
On the technical front, Gonkerwon outlined measures to boost revenue generation and protect LEC’s commercial interests. The Anti-Power Theft (APT) Initiative, launched in November 2022, has already yielded significant results, reducing commercial losses from 41.3% in 2022 to 27.5% by the end of 2024. The team is now intensifying efforts to institutionalize the initiative, decentralizing operations, and deploying advanced metering systems to combat electricity theft effectively.
The challenge of energy supply remains central to LEC’s agenda, with demand surging beyond available capacity. Gonkerwon revealed that LEC’s base load has increased from 57 MW in 2024 to 86 MW in early 2025, with peak demand hitting 107 MW. This surge, driven by grid expansion and rising industrial activity, stresses the need for urgent capacity upgrades.
In response, LEC has secured a new Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Côte d’Ivoire, ensuring a 50 MW energy supply through the CLSG Transmission Line, with provisions for an additional 20 MW to meet unforeseen demands. Despite this progress, technical issues from Ivorian partners have caused sporadic outages in Monrovia, which the management is closely monitoring.
As the dry season approaches, Gonkerwon highlighted LEC’s preparedness to address reduced hydropower output due to declining water levels at Mount Coffee. Measures include maximizing thermal plant capacity to 18 MW and finalizing agreements for an expanded CLSG energy supply. A revised load management strategy aims to minimize outages and enhance customer satisfaction.
Network constraints, however, continue to impede reliable electricity distribution. Gonkerwon emphasized the urgency of upgrading transmission lines and substations, including key infrastructure from Mount Coffee to Paynesville and Bushrod Island. Plans also involve addressing the lack of redundancy in the distribution network, a critical factor in ensuring consistent power delivery.
Amid these challenges, the Interim Management Team has withdrawn a previously submitted electricity tariff proposal to revise it further, ensuring affordability and regulatory compliance. This move, Gonkerwon stressed, reflects LEC’s commitment to balancing operational costs with customer interests.
As the press conference concluded, Gonkerwon outlined the corporation’s immediate priorities, including restoring an out-of-service turbine at Mount Coffee, deploying 300,000 new meters, and conducting audits of large customer connections. He reassured the public of LEC’s dedication to transparency and delivering reliable energy solutions that foster national development.
“Energy is the backbone of economic growth, and LEC stands ready to play its part in powering Liberia’s progress,” Gonkerwon affirmed, calling for continued collaboration with stakeholders to realize the ambitious vision for Liberia’s energy future.
