By: Keith Morrison| Staff Writer
Capitol Hill, Monrovia-Thursday, April 03, 2025-The Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) and the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) have reassured the Senate Joint Committee on Hydrocarbons, Energy, and Environment of their ongoing commitment to ensuring a stable and reliable power supply at Roberts International Airport (RIA). The agencies appeared before the committee on Tuesday, April 2, to discuss the power outage that affected the airport on the 30th of March 30.
Jero Mends-Cole, Acting Managing Director of the LAA, addressed the Senate, expressing gratitude for their support and reaffirming the LAA’s commitment to the reliability of RIA’s power supply. “We are committed to ensuring that Roberts International Airport remains a critical hub for Liberia’s development and global connectivity,” Mends-Cole affirmed.
He further iterated the LAA’s ongoing efforts to improve the airport’s infrastructure to handle any power disruptions in the future. “The swift response and collaboration between the LAA and LEC have shown that we are prepared for such unforeseen events,” Mends-Cole continued. “We are taking significant steps to future-proof the airport’s power systems to ensure that the airport remains operational and safe for passengers.”
At the same time, Jonathan C. Enders, Deputy Director for Technical Services at LAA, reassured the Senate about the airport’s preparedness to handle such events moving forward.
He emphasized that, despite the disruption, the LAA responded swiftly to maintain operations. “We take this matter very seriously, and we are fully committed to ensuring that Roberts International Airport operates with a reliable and uninterrupted power supply henceforth,” Enders assured.
“This incident has provided valuable lessons, and we are already taking steps to improve infrastructure and prevent such issues from happening again.”
LAA officials confirmed that backup generators were immediately deployed, ensuring that critical operations such as runway lights and essential services continued without interruption. Enders stressed the importance of maintaining safety and operational continuity for both passengers and flights, even in the face of unforeseen events.
Acting Deputy Managing Director for Operations, LEC, Thomas Gonkerwon’s Take Regarding the Incident
In his statement, LEC Acting Deputy Managing Director of Operations Thomas Gonkerwon provided a detailed account of the technical aspects of the incident. He explained that the bird strike damaged an isolator connected to a transformer, leading to the temporary loss of power to the terminal. “The airport is a critical load on our system and when this incident occurred, we had to switch to the generator to keep essential services running. Our team acted swiftly to restore power,” Gonkerwon narrated.
By 1:00am the following morning, power was fully restored, and by 4:00pm, a replacement transformer was installed. Gonkerwon assured the committee that though the fault caused disruption, it was contained and did not affect other areas of the airport.
Long-Term Solutions and Investments
While the ‘bird strike’ was an unforeseeable incident, both the LAA and LEC outlined their plans to further enhance the power infrastructure at the airport. The LAA is in the process of procuring a new 3-megawatt transformer, which will reduce reliance on the national grid and improve the airport’s power capacity. Additionally, the LAA is exploring solar energy solutions to provide an alternative and sustainable power source for the airport.
The LAA also announced that its backup generator capacity has been increased to 2.5 megawatts, ensuring that key areas, such as the terminal building, control tower, and VIP lounges, will remain operational during any future power interruptions.
Collaboration with the Senate and LEC
Senator Snowe of Bomi County commended the quick response of the LAA and LEC teams and stressed the importance of continue transparency and cooperation in addressing such issues.
“It is key that we work together to avoid future disruptions and strengthen Liberia’s power infrastructure,” Senator Snowe encouraged during the meeting.
Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, while acknowledging the prompt actions taken, underscored the need for a long-term solution to prevent recurrence similar incidents in the future.
He expressed the need for sustained dialogue and efforts to ensure the airport’s power system remains stableand optimum.
Future Investments for Resilient Operations
Looking ahead, both agencies remain committed to future-proofing RIA’s power infrastructure. The LAA’s plans include the installation of a new transformer, increased backup power, and the exploration of renewable energy sources, such as solar power, to ensure uninterrupted supply of power and service.
Furthermore, the LEC is evaluating ways to improve the airport’s power network, including the potential addition of more substations and alternative power feeds. Gonkerwon added, “We are also addressing environmental factors such as bird strikes, which contributed to the outage in the first place. These measures include clearing potential hazards around transformers to prevent future incidents.”
The recent power outage, though disruptive, has sparked important discussions and actions aimed at strengthening Liberia’s aviation infrastructure.
Through their continued collaboration, the LAA, LEC, and the Senate are working to ensure that Roberts International Airport remains a safe, reliable, and efficient gateway for international travel.
Both the LAA and LEC are focused on ensuring the long-term stability of the airport’s power supply, with plans to address infrastructure vulnerabilities and improve resilience against unforeseen events.
About the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA)
The Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) is responsible for managing and developing Liberia’s airports, ensuring they meet the highest standards of safety, reliability, and operational excellence. The LAA’s mission is to support the nation’s growth while enhancing connectivity to the global community.
Edited: Jesefu Morris Keita |Editor-In-Chief
