By: TPA News Desk | Local Stories – Politics | www.thepointafricanews.com/politics

The Liberian Senate has officially confirmed Mohammed Sheriff as the new Managing Director of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), marking a pivotal moment for the nation’s struggling energy sector. The unanimous vote by 20 Senators followed a recommendation from the Senate Committee on Hydrocarbon, which endorsed Sheriff’s qualifications despite earlier public scrutiny regarding his relationship with the LEC Board Chair.

Sheriff, who had been serving in an acting capacity since April 2025 following his appointment by President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, is a distinguished professional with a strong background in energy management and infrastructure development. Prior to this role, he was the first General Manager of TRANSCO CLSG, where he played a crucial part in the regional power interconnection project spanning Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.

During his confirmation hearing in June, Sheriff emphasized the inseparable link between Liberia’s development agenda and the availability of reliable, affordable electricity. He pledged to lead LEC through a structured transformation agenda focused on three key pillars: financial viability, infrastructure upgrade and maintenance, and customer-centricity.

Under his leadership, Sheriff has already begun implementing aggressive initiatives aimed at reducing Liberia’s reliance on imported electricity and boosting domestic power generation. This includes pursuing the construction of a combined gas power plant in Grand Bassa County, expected to generate over 270 megawatts, and finalizing arrangements to receive up to 30 megawatts of electricity from Guinea. He has also initiated fiscal mechanisms to ensure government ministries and state-owned enterprises pay for their electricity consumption, a critical step towards stabilizing LEC’s finances.

The LEC Board of Directors and Interim Management Team have welcomed Sheriff’s confirmation, expressing confidence that his leadership and vision will drive the corporation towards greater efficiency and progress, ultimately benefiting all Liberians.