Reuters Insider - Liberia's electricity crisis gets residents charged up
04/01/2019 12:25
Click the following link to watch video: https://share.insider.thomsonreuters.com/link?entryId=1_t6ibgmtz&referenceId=tag:reuters.com,2019:newsml_OV9VLH2LV_930&pageId=ReutersNews Source: Reuters Insider Description: Liberia has one of the lowest electricity access rates in the world and the country's power utility says more than 60 percent of its electricity is stolen illegally each year. Serena Chaudhry reports. Short Link: https://reut.rs/2s6fgQo Video Transcript: The site of a technician climbing up an electricity pole in Monrovia is not a welcome sight for most people living in Liberia's capital because according to the state energy company, many of them, possibly even most of them are stealing their electricity. The Liberia Electricity Corporation has launched a widespread crackdown on homes and businesses, illegally connected to its power grid. But given Liberia's chronic utility problems, many say they have little choice. I don't have electricity. I have to rely on my generator but then I can't afford to have all my things on it. I'm appealing to the LEC to come to our rescue. We go to their office all the time. If they would just supply us, we could then stop people from tampering with the line. Liberia has one of the lowest electricity access rates in the world. About 12% of the population is able to get power legally. Meanwhile, the company says 60% of its annual output is stolen, worth about $35 million. Millions that could go into rebuilding the electricity sector. On its website, there's a stark warning of the dangers of power theft. Chief Executive John Ashley says the utility is planning to take further action. We're in discussions with the Ministry of Justice and we're hoping to get some traction on those discussions with a view to moving the capital -- from another misdemeanor or to felony and perhaps classifying it as economic sabotage because effectively, that's what's happening. Much of Liberia's infrastructure was destroyed in civil conflicts between 1989 and 2003. Efforts to rebuild it have been hurt by falling iron ore and rubber prices, the country's main exports, and a prior Ebola outbreak. With support from the US, Liberia says it aims to provide electricity access to 70% of people in the capital by 2030 and 35% elsewhere in the country