The sudden 85% reduction in electricity supply from Compagnie Ivoirienne d'Électricité (CIE) to Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) is a critical issue that warrants careful analysis. While the official statement cites production challenges and critical maintenance activities as the reasons for this drastic cut, underlying factors suggest a more complex situation.
Firstly, it's important to note that this reduction comes just months after Ivory Coast threatened to cut off power to Liberia due to a substantial unpaid debt of $19.6 million[2]. This threat, made in September 2024, indicates ongoing financial issues between LEC and CIE. The timing of the current reduction, coupled with the previous warnings, strongly suggests that the failure to settle this debt may significantly contribute to the current crisis.
The LEC's financial struggles are further evidenced by their urgent appeal to the Ministry of Finance in late 2024 to release funds to prevent CIE from cutting off the electricity supply[2]. This demonstrates that LEC has been aware of the potential for supply disruptions due to unpaid bills for some time, yet appears to have been unable to resolve the issue.
Interestingly, just a month before this crisis, in January 2025, LEC announced plans to improve power reliability and reduce outages[1]. They even mentioned negotiating a new Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with CIE for 50MW of energy supply via the CLSG Transmission Line, with an additional 20MW of "Extra Energy" for peak demand periods. The stark contrast between these optimistic plans and the current reality raises questions about LEC's understanding of its financial position and relationship with CIE.
Moreover, LEC's recent export of surplus electricity to Ivory Coast, generating $547,933 in revenue[4], adds another layer of complexity to the situation. While this was seen as a positive development that could help offset LEC's energy bills with CIE, it clearly wasn't sufficient to prevent the current crisis.
The impact of this supply reduction on Liberia's power infrastructure is severe. With the supply from CIE plummeting from 50MW to just 7.5MW, and the Mt. Coffee Hydropower Plant operating at reduced capacity due to low water levels, LEC is left with a significant energy deficit[5]. The activation of thermal power plants provides only limited relief, leaving thousands of households, businesses, and essential services facing prolonged blackouts.
This crisis exposes the vulnerability of Liberia's power sector and its heavy dependence on imported electricity. Despite efforts to increase domestic generation capacity, including the rehabilitation of the Mt. Coffee Hydropower Plant, Liberia still relies significantly on power imports to meet its growing demand.
The situation also highlights the challenges of regional power integration. While initiatives like the West African Power Pool's CLSG interconnection aim to improve energy security and facilitate power trading among countries, they also create dependencies that can lead to crises when financial or technical issues arise.
LEC's communication strategy during this crisis is also worth noting. While they have informed the public about the reduction and its immediate impacts, there's a lack of transparency regarding the underlying causes, particularly concerning the potential role of unpaid debts in triggering this crisis.
Looking forward, this situation underscores the urgent need for Liberia to diversify its energy sources, improve its financial management, and strengthen its domestic generation capacity. It also highlights the importance of maintaining good financial standing with power suppliers to ensure stable electricity supply.
While production challenges and maintenance activities may be contributing factors, the evidence strongly suggests that LEC's failure to settle its substantial debt with CIE is a significant, if not primary, reason for the current drastic reduction in power supply. This crisis serves as a wake-up call for Liberia's energy sector, emphasizing the need for better financial management, increased domestic generation capacity, and a more resilient power infrastructure.
___________________________________________________________________
Get Involved
Do you have additional facts to add to this insight or an opinion you would like to express?
Email Us
Reference
[1] https://thenewdawnliberia.com/lec-to-reduce-power-outage/
[2] https://energycentral.com/news/liberia-ivory-coast-threatens-cut-clsg-electricity-lines-over-us196m-unpaid-debt
[3] https://lecliberia.com/news-releases/press-statement-for-january-10-2025-press-conference-held-at-the-headquarters-of-the-liberia-electricity-corporation-in-waterside-monrovia/
[4] https://lecliberia.com/news-releases/liberia-exports-surplus-electricity-to-ivory-coast-revenue-allocated-to-clear-electricity-debt-with-ivory-coast/
[5] https://allafrica.com/stories/202502060302.html.Monrovia sets for Dark-heated season, LEC concedes CIE 85% cut in Energy Supply. Monrovia sets for a dark-heated season, and LEC concedes a CIE 85% cut in energy supply. Monrovia sets for a dark-heated season, and LEC concedes a CIE 85% cut in energy supply. Monrovia sets for a dark-heated season, and LEC concedes a CIE 85% cut in energy supply. Monrovia sets for Dark-heated season, LEC concedes CIE 85% cut in Energy Supply
[6] https://liberianinvestigator.com/update/cote-divoire-cuts-electricity-supply-to-liberia-by-85/Monrovia sets for Dark-heated season, LEC concedes CIE 85% cut in Energy Supply
Commentaires