- LEC’s Sherif pledges to end power outages, unveiling a five-year electricity reform plan aligned with President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda.
- Liberia is boosting imports from Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea, aiming to stabilise supply and reduce dependence on fuel-heavy thermal plants.
- Sherif urges citizens to pay for electricity and warns that illegal connections and non-payment threaten long-term system sustainability.
Mohammed M. Sherif, Acting Managing Director of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), says Liberia will soon move past chronic blackouts.
During a radio interview on Monday, Sherif announced urgent actions to cut load shedding and introduced a five-year plan to stabilise the country’s power supply.
The plan directly supports President Joseph Boakai’s Agenda for Development.
“LEC is on a new path,” Sherif said on the OK FM Morning Show. “President Boakai gave me this assignment, and I intend to deliver.”
Sherif thanked President Boakai, Energy Minister Wilmot Paye, and the LEC Board of Directors. He also praised the LEC staff, noting that 95% are Liberians.
Before taking over at LEC, Sherif led TRANSCO-CLSG for nearly 12 years. He managed a $550 million energy project linking Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.
Fixing a Broken System
Sherif took over during a power crisis. Earlier this year, Côte d’Ivoire slashed electricity exports to Liberia from 50 megawatts (MW) to 7.5 MW.
This cut forced LEC to ration electricity. Communities in Monrovia spent up to 12 hours a day without power.
“My first month felt like firefighting,” Sherif said. “When a house burns, you don’t ask questions. You act fast.”
The shortage exposed significant weaknesses in Liberia’s power system.
Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant currently operates below capacity. One of four turbines remains out of service. During the dry season, the plant produces only 33 MW of its 88 MW capacity.
Bushrod Island thermal plants remain under repair. Once fixed, these units will add 15.5 MW to the national grid.
Clear Strategy
Sherif laid out a roadmap for recovery. He targeted key issues—poor infrastructure, delayed decisions, and outdated processes.
He called for cost-reflective tariffs and intelligent metering systems, which, he said, would improve efficiency and raise revenue.
LEC continues to rely on power imports. Liberia receives up to 50 MW daily from Côte d’Ivoire through the CLSG transmission line.
Sherif revealed plans to add 30 MW from Guinea. He received the Power Purchase Agreement and plans to sign it soon.
“With this agreement, we’ll access 130 MW,” Sherif said. “That gives us room to shut down thermal plants and save fuel.”
Citizens Must Act
Sherif said the electricity supply has improved over the past two weeks. Many communities in Monrovia now enjoy stable power.
Still, he urged caution. “I won’t promise zero load shedding. Power systems can change quickly.”
He urged citizens to pay for electricity and report theft. “If you use power without paying, you hurt everyone,” he warned. “We will enforce payment.”
Sherif aligned his vision with President Boakai’s goal. “The President told me that every Liberian must have reliable and affordable power by the end of his term. I fully support that.”
He closed the interview with confidence in his team. “This isn’t a one-man job,” he said. “Our engineers and technicians work long hours. With strong leadership, we will deliver.”