By Rocheford T. Gardiner
MONROVIA – The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has issued an urgent public service announcement, informing the public of a planned 10-hour total system shutdown scheduled for Sunday, April 26, 2026.
The outage, which will run from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, is part of a “critical annual maintenance exercise” and essential “hotspot repairs” at the Mount Coffee Substation. Because this facility serves as the primary hub for both domestic hydro-generation and regional power imports, the shutdown will effectively sever power supply to a vast majority of the national grid.
Why the Shutdown is Happening Now
According to the LEC, this intervention is a cornerstone of its 2026 rainy season operational strategy. As Liberia transitions into the period of highest water volume for the Saint Paul River, the corporation aims to ensure that the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant (MCHPP)—the country’s largest generation asset—is at peak reliability to handle the seasonal surge in demand.
“This intervention marks a comprehensive outage,” the LEC stated, emphasizing that the repairs are vital for “strengthening system reliability and ensuring sustained power delivery.”
The Current State of Liberia’s Power Grid
The scheduled blackout comes at a sensitive time for the Liberian energy sector. As of April 2026, the country is grappling with a widening gap between supply and demand:
- Surging Demand: National demand has jumped to approximately 142 MW, driven by the addition of over 60,000 new customers in the last year alone.
- Generation Deficit: While the Mount Coffee plant has an installed capacity of 88 MW, actual output often fluctuates due to seasonal constraints and technical upkeep. Thermal plants at Bushrod Island provide a modest buffer but are frequently hindered by high fuel costs and aging machinery.
- Regional Reliance: Liberia has become increasingly dependent on the CLSG (Côte d’Ivoire-Liberia-Sierra Leone-Guinea) interconnection line. However, recent maintenance on that regional line and generation issues in neighboring Guinea have recently squeezed Liberia’s import buffer, making domestic maintenance like Sunday’s exercise even more critical.
Preparation and Safety
The LEC has urged all “valued customers and stakeholders” to prepare for the 10-hour interruption. The corporation advises the following:
- Plan Ahead: Complete tasks requiring electricity before 8:00 AM on Sunday.
- Protect Electronics: Safely switch off and unplug sensitive electrical appliances (TVs, refrigerators, computers) to avoid damage from potential power surges during restoration.
- Monitor Official Channels: Follow LEC’s social media and official hotline (4500) for real-time updates on restoration progress.
While the corporation expressed regret for the inconvenience, officials maintained that the short-term blackout is a necessary “preventative medicine” to avoid catastrophic equipment failure during the peak of the upcoming rainy season.
With President Joseph Boakai recently reaffirming a goal of 700 MW capacity by 2030, including the planned 42 MW extension of the Mount Coffee facility, these maintenance windows are seen by experts as essential steps in managing an overstretched and rapidly growing grid.
