The Inquirer (Monrovia)
12 December 2007
The Liberian Electricity Corporation (LEC) has generated over US$3million dollars since it commenced its rejuvenated electricity supply to the city of Monrovia and its environs in July 2006.
The United States Ambassador, Donald Booth, whose country is one of the major donors that is in partnership with the LEC to supply electricity to customers, made the disclosure Tuesday at a rededicatory ceremony of the corporation's facilities held at the main central offices of the LEC down Waterside.
Delivering a special statement at the ceremony, which was attended by government officials, representatives of donors working with the LEC, Ambassador Booth said before the corporation commenced the Emergence Power Supply (EPP) program in July 2006, it had no customers; it did not generate or deliver any electricity supply.
He stated that today, the corporation has about 700 customers and is generating US$200,000 monthly while it is paying for its own fuel, operation and maintenance.
Ambassador Booth described the work of the corporation as a growing and functioning business, which has planned within the next six months to add seven more mega watts of power to its current capacity, which will be extended to over 2,000 customers, while an additionally 55 kilo metres of transmission and distribution lines.
Commenting on the US government's assistance to the program, Ambassador Booth said so far the support to the program has been more than US$2million in the last 18 months.
For his part, LEC Managing Director Harry Yuan, confirmed to this paper the figures released by the US envoy stressing that there is a high degree of transparency and accountability in the operation of the LEC. The LEC boss said the re-dedicatory ceremony signifies the extensive work done at the LEC by the US government through USAID and its collaborators.
He stated further that in August 2006, the LEC had 15 % collection efficiency and that percentage increased later to 26% and now it has climbed remarkably to above 95%. He commended the US government and other partners for the extensive support that had expedited the operation capacity of the corporation.
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