The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has recovered approximately five megawatts (MW) of illegally consumed electricity through its ongoing nationwide anti-power theft campaign, “Operation Sweep.”
The day-and-night operation has enabled Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) teams to inspect industrial facilities and residential communities across the country, resulting in the removal of illegally connected meters, unauthorized electrical cables and other fraudulent power connections.
Authorities confirmed that several individuals have been arrested during the crackdown. Some offenders have been prosecuted and sentenced to jail terms, while others are paying thousands of dollars in recovery and penalty fees.
Liberia, a West African nation with a population of more than 5.8 million, has a total installed power generation capacity of approximately 126MW. The recovery of 5MW represents a significant portion of the country’s available electricity supply.
Electricity access remains limited, with the national access rate estimated at about 33 percent. The Government of Liberia and its development partners are working to expand generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure to improve nationwide access and reliability.
Liberia’s power sector was severely damaged during the civil wars from 1989 to 2003, which left much of the electricity infrastructure destroyed. In the post-war period, Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has been rebuilding the system, including the rehabilitation of the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant and the expansion of thermal generation capacity.
Power theft continues to pose a major challenge for Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), contributing to financial losses, system overload and unreliable supply. Officials say enforcement efforts will be intensified to ensure individuals and businesses engaged in illegal electricity use are held accountable.