People are stealing about 60% of the electricity generated in Liberia annually by making illegal connections to their homes and businesses, the state-owned power utility has said.
The theft caused annual losses of about $35m, Liberia Electricity Corporation officials told state radio. This was robbing the utility of cash for extending power supply, they said.
Liberia is trying to rebuild its power sector, destroyed during a civil war which lasted from 1989 to 2003.