-Senate Grills LEC Officials
Monrovia — The Liberian Senate’s Committee of the Whole confronted the nation’s energy crisis head-on, demanding immediate answers and tangible solutions to the persistent power outages crippling the country.
Top officials from the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) and the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) faced a grilling from frustrated lawmakers who voiced the anger of millions of Liberians left in the dark. The hearing, held on March 17, 2026, zeroed in on how erratic electricity is devastating businesses, crippling hospitals, disrupting schools, and paralyzing households in Monrovia and beyond.
Senators were unanimous in their message: reliable power is not a luxury but a non-negotiable pillar for economic survival and improved living standards. They demanded accountability for the ongoing instability, stressing that the situation is no longer tolerable.
Facing the heat, LEC Managing Director Mohammed M. Sherif laid out the stark reality of the sector, citing a “perfect storm” of challenges. He pointed to aging infrastructure, surging demand, and technical faults as the primary culprits behind the blackouts. Mr. Sherif also noted that necessary maintenance on critical facilities and disruptions in imported power have compounded the issue.
However, he pivoted to a message of action, assuring the Senate that the LEC is not standing still. He outlined a series of corrective measures, including an aggressive push to rehabilitate damaged transmission lines, upgrade distribution networks, and expand generation capacity to meet the nation’s growing needs. “We are strengthening grid management and sharpening our response times to faults,” Mr. Sherif assured the committee.
Meanwhile, Claude J. Katta, Chairman of the LERC, reinforced the Commission’s role as the public’s watchdog. He vowed to hold LEC’s feet to the fire, ensuring the state-owned entity meets its mandated service standards. Mr. Katta emphasized that the Commission is ramping up efforts to enforce transparency and accountability, engaging stakeholders to align the sector with national energy policies and protect consumers.
The hearing concluded with a unified vow from officials to stabilize supply, leaving the public to watch closely whether these promises will finally turn the lights on for good.
