Reported by: Prince Saah
Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has officially received a generation license for its 20-megawatt (MW) solar power plant, marking a major step in Liberia’s transition toward cleaner, more affordable, and more reliable electricity. The license was issued Thursday, August 13, 2026, by the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) during a ceremony attended by government officials, LEC representatives, local authorities, members of the media, and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the ceremony, Cllr. Kla-Edward Toomey ll, Commissioner, LERC described the issuance of the license as a significant milestone in the development and regulation of Liberia’s electricity sector. According to him, the license grants LEC the legal authority to operate the solar generation facility while placing the corporation under clear obligations to comply with Liberia’s electricity laws, technical standards, regulations, and the specific conditions attached to the license.
Cllr. Toomey, ll stressed that the license should not be viewed merely as an administrative document but as a binding regulatory instrument requiring LEC to uphold standards of performance, accountability, safety, efficiency, and service delivery. Speaking, he called on LEC to improve the reliability and quality of electricity supply, reduce technical and commercial losses, and ensure that its operations remain transparent and financially sustainable.
The Commissioner also urged electricity customers to pay their legitimate bills, protect electricity infrastructure, and reject electricity theft and other practices that undermine the financial sustainability of the national utility. Cllr. Toomey also addressed concerns raised by residents of Harrisburg Township during public hearings conducted ahead of the license issuance.
According to him, residents raised three major concerns to include, land ownership and boundaries, possible encroachment on existing agricultural projects, and environmental issues. The Commissioner said a survey is being conducted by the Liberia Land Authority to resolve the land issue and assured residents that the matter is expected to be addressed within the next two months.
On agricultural lands, Augustus V. Goanue, LERC Managing Director said the commission has communicated with LEC to ensure that existing crops are harvested before farmers are required to leave areas that may fall within LEC’s operational boundaries following completion of the survey. The LERC Managing Director further disclosed that LEC has assured it that Harrisburg will be fully electrified within the next two months.
Receiving the license on behalf of LEC, the corporation’s Deputy Managing Director for Operations, Thomas Z. Gonkerwon described the occasion as a pivotal milestone in Liberia’s national energy transformation. He disclosed that the 20MW solar plant is already contributing power to the national grid, currently producing an average of about 5MW during the rainy season for approximately four to six hours daily.
Gonkerwon said the full 20MW capacity is expected to make a significant difference during Liberia’s upcoming dry season, when electricity demand and generation challenges are expected to increase. “Today, we looked at the 20 megawatts, adding that an additional 10MW solar project is also ongoing, along with a 12-megawatt-hour Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) expected to come online in the first quarter of next year,” he narrated.
According to him, the additional solar generation and battery storage will provide more renewable energy while improving stability on the electricity network. On behalf of the corporation, he also pledged to comply with all regulatory and social requirements attached to the license and to properly account for the additional energy supplied to the grid.
The LEC Deputy Managing Director for Operations said, it is simultaneously implementing measures aimed at reducing electricity losses and improving customer service. He highlighted its ongoing digital transformation, including the deployment of smart meters and systems designed to provide customers with real-time information about their electricity consumption.
