Paynesville — A massive fire at the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) substation in Joe Bar, Paynesville, late Monday night has left sections of the city without electricity.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh
Eyewitnesses reported hearing loud explosions before towering flames lit up the night sky, as the blaze ripped through the facility. The incident disrupted electricity supply across Paynesville and along the Roberts International Airport Highway, leaving homes and businesses in darkness for hours before electricity was restored.
In a statement issued Tuesday, LEC management attributed the fire to an arcing flame caused by transformer overload, which led to the bursting of a cable shoe and created an air gap within the system.
The corporation said its technical team swiftly detected the fault and isolated the affected transformer to prevent further damage and safeguard the public. “Calm has since been restored at the substation and full stabilization efforts are ongoing,” the statement noted, adding that engineers and technicians were continuing restoration works to fully stabilize the facility and restore supply to customers along the affected corridor.
Preliminary technical findings, however, point to a deeper structural challenge. According to LEC, the Paynesville substation has reached its saturation point — a condition that has been developing over the past three to four years due to rising electricity demand.
The substation currently serves Schiefflin, Paynesville, Duport Road through the Soul Clinic to Fendell corridor, and parts of Gardnersville — communities that have experienced rapid population growth and exponential increases in power consumption.
“Given the sustained and growing demand, LEC is working assiduously to upgrade the existing substation and to construct a new substation in Fendell to isolate the Fendell corridor, balance load distribution, and enhance system reliability and efficiency,” the statement said.
The corporation reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the national grid and delivering safe, reliable, and sustainable electricity to customers.
Meanwhile, residents fear the incident could further strain Liberia’s already pressured power system. The grid has been grappling with reduced generation linked to low water levels in the St. Paul River, the primary source of power for the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant, leading to ongoing power shedding across parts of Monrovia and its surroundings.
For many in Paynesville, the fire is more than an isolated incident — it is a stark reminder of the urgent need for expanded infrastructure to keep pace with Liberia’s growing energy demands.
