General News
7,000 Customers To Benefit From LEC'S Expansion
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- Published on Tuesday, 11 December 2012 07:13
- Written by Florence Nyenatiee, Cub Reporter
…As U.S. Gives $9M Grant
Approximately 7,000 new customers are expected to benefit from the energy expansion of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), United States Ambassador to Liberia Deborah Malac has disclosed.
The United States Government through its Embassy in Monrovia has awarded a grant of US$9.1 million to LEC for the expansion program. The grant agreement was signed Wednesday, December 5, 2012.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the LEC's Waterside offices, Ambassador Malac said she was pleased to inaugurate a new partnership between the U.S government and Liberia aimed at linking new costumers to the LEC's expansion grid.
Ms. Malac noted that energy is the center in the Liberian government's agenda for transformation, adding that the expansion grid will be launched this week.
“With this funding agreement through the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S Government will provide US$9.1 million directly to LEC to expand the electricity grid in Monrovia, providing electrical services to 7,000 new customers more than doubling the current number of customers,” Malac said.
She disclosed that her government has invested over US$50 million in Liberia's energy sector.
Acting Finance Minister James Kollie said the Liberian people are grateful to the Government and people of the United States.
“This partnership has indeed shown that the U.S government identified with the people of Liberia and also with the Liberian Government's agenda for transformation,'' Minister Kollie.
The Chairman of the LEC Board of Directors, Francais B. Cooper thanked the US government and its people for the grant which, he believes, will capacitate the corporation in providing to more costumers.
Mr. Cooper admonished Liberians to protect the infrastructure, stressing “we as Liberians must protect our infrastructures now and in future as this is one major way our nation's development will be guaranteed.''
