Holds Talks With Liberia’s Electricity Regulator
Monrovia, Liberia – International support for reforms in Liberia’s electricity sector was reaffirmed on Monday, January 19, when a high-level delegation from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) held technical discussions with senior management and the Board of Commissioners of the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC).
The meeting was held in LERC’s Monrovia offices after the MCC Board decided in December 2025 to confirm Liberia’s bid for a second MCC Compact. The primary subjects of discussion were the current state of the electrical industry and the Commission’s expected role under a possible new agreement.
LERC, established under Liberia’s first MCC Compact, is one of the program’s most enduring institutional outcomes. The second compact, which focuses on expanding the supply of reliable and affordable electricity throughout the nation, is expected to greatly improve the power industry if it is implemented.
Along with members from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the MCC mission was led by Ms. Carrie Monahan, Managing Director for Africa at the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Ms. Monahan gave the Commissioners an overview of the visit’s objectives and restated MCC’s mandate to offer financial support to qualified nations in order to promote economic development and lessen poverty.
She emphasized Liberia’s first compact as a significant accomplishment, citing in particular the restoration of the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant, which gave the country’s grid access to a vital renewable energy source. Liberia’s choice for a second compact, according to Ms. Monahan, is a reflection of the program’s successful outcomes.
She stated that MCC is prepared to collaborate closely with LERC to promote sector reforms and targeted investments while awaiting the Government of Liberia’s final determination of priority areas for support.
LERC Board Chairman Hon. Claude J. Katta, speaking on behalf of the Commission, welcomed the MCC group and referred to the Commission as a key accomplishment of the initial accord. He pointed out that the establishment of a reliable and independent power regulator in Liberia was made possible thanks in large part to MCC help.
Recalling that the previous compact gave LERC vital operational and technical support, Chairman Katta expressed hope that a second compact would solidify those benefits. Additionally, he listed achievements since the first compact’s conclusion, such as Liberia’s improved standing on the African Development Bank’s power Regulatory Index for Africa and initiatives to liberalize the power industry.
He stressed that sustained technical assistance, especially in capacity building, will enhance LERC’s regulatory efficacy and help Liberia achieve its more general objectives for electricity availability and development.
Reported by: Prince Saah
