Buchanan, Grand Bassa County – The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) has granted the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) an amended distribution licence, authorizing the state-owned utility to extend electricity distribution services to Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County.
The approval, announced on July 11, follows a comprehensive regulatory process that included technical evaluations, stakeholder consultations, public participation, and a formal public hearing conducted in line with the Electricity Law of Liberia (2015). The process was designed to ensure that LEC possesses the technical, financial, and operational capacity to safely and reliably provide electricity services within the city.
As part of the licensing process, LERC held a public hearing in Buchanan on June 19, bringing together county officials, traditional leaders, youth and women groups, students, civil society organizations, media representatives, and other stakeholders.
During the hearing, LEC outlined its operational preparedness, technical capabilities, customer service plans, and long-term strategy for expanding electricity access to Buchanan City. Stakeholders were also given the opportunity to engage the Corporation through a question-and-answer session, raising concerns and seeking clarification on the planned electricity distribution program.
The amended licence expands LEC’s existing distribution authority in Grand Bassa County by officially including Buchanan City, enabling the Corporation to begin supplying electricity to the county capital as part of the government’s broader electrification agenda.
Speaking following the approval, LERC Board Chairman Claude J. Katta described the licensing process as transparent, inclusive, and fully consistent with the Commission’s statutory mandate to regulate Liberia’s electricity sector. He said the approval represents a major milestone for Buchanan City and is expected to improve access to reliable electricity while supporting economic growth and development in Grand Bassa County.
LERC’s Director of Technical Regulations, Eng. Abu Dekontee Sanso, emphasized that the issuance of the licence marks the beginning—not the end—of LEC’s regulatory responsibilities. He noted that the Corporation will be required to comply with all licence conditions, while LERC will continue to conduct routine inspections, monitor operations, and enforce regulatory standards to ensure the delivery of safe, reliable, and quality electricity services.
For his part, LEC Deputy Managing Director for Operations, Thomas Z. Gonkerwon, welcomed the Commission’s decision and reaffirmed the Corporation’s commitment to meeting every requirement contained in the amended licence. He said the expansion aligns with the Government of Liberia’s Accelerated Action for Inclusive Development (AAID) agenda, which seeks to increase national electricity access to more than 75 percent of the population while improving the reliability and quality of electricity services nationwide.
The granting of the amended distribution licence marks another significant step in Liberia’s ongoing power sector reforms, underscoring LERC’s regulatory role in expanding electricity access and advancing the Government of Liberia’s commitment to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for citizens across the country.
