Published: November 28, 2024
Monrovia – The outgoing Chief Executive Officer of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), Monie R. Captan, has outlined key achievements under his 2.5-year tenure, citing improvements in power reliability and operational efficiency despite persistent challenges.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, ahead of his departure at the end of the month, Captan emphasized that the frequency and duration of power outages have significantly declined. He highlighted that the System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) improved from 31.01 hours in January 2022 to 8.9 hours by September 2024.
“In simple terms, the number of times power went off and the length of time it remained off have reduced significantly over the past two years,” Captan stated.
Captan revealed that LEC operates 13 major substations, including Bushrod, Mt. Coffee, and Paynesville, which supply energy through 39 MV/feeder networks. He maintained that these upgrades have contributed to a marked improvement in network reliability, though he acknowledged concerns over delays in restoring power to households and institutions across Liberia.
Highlighting LEC’s financial turnaround, Captan noted that the corporation reduced its net losses from $27.2 million in 2022 to $18.3 million in 2023, with projections to lower losses further to $11 million by December 2024.
“The corporation estimates it will break even within two years, assuming the restoration of Mt. Coffee Unit 1 turbine, the commissioning of a new 200MW solar power plant, timely government payments for energy bills, and further reduction of commercial losses,” he explained.
Captan disclosed that the Government of Liberia owes the LEC $18.9 million as of October 31, 2024, making it the largest consumer of electricity, accounting for 14% of all energy sold.
To address this debt, Captan said LEC has engaged the Ministries of Mines and Energy and Finance and Development Planning to ensure budgetary allocations for government entities’ energy consumption starting in 2025. The proposed plan includes shifting government agencies to prepaid metering services.
“The payment of energy bills by the government will enhance LEC’s capacity to pay for energy imports and maintain its network, thereby improving service delivery,” Captan noted.
On the CLSG transmission line, Captan disclosed that LEC has been billed $32.5 million for energy imports, of which $27.1 million has been paid, leaving an outstanding balance of $5.38 million. Additionally, $9.4 million was billed for transmission charges, with $8.31 million paid, leaving $1.11 million unpaid.
He also reported a $10.67 million legacy debt to Côte d’Ivoire’s CIE, owed jointly by the Liberian government and distribution network operators in Nimba, Bong, Maryland, Grand Gedeh, and River Gee Counties. This debt is being repaid over a three-year rescheduling agreement with Ivorian authorities.
He mentioned that there has been a significant increase in LEC’s customer base, which grew from 199,441 in 2022 to 306,433 by October 2024—a 53.6% rise.
Captan expressed gratitude to LEC’s partners and stakeholders, emphasizing the need for sustained efforts to stabilize Liberia’s electricity sector. His tenure, while marked by progress, leaves ongoing challenges for his successor to address in the years ahead.
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