The electricity crisis has returned to the forefront of the Libyan scene with the start of the peak of summer, after several cities and regions witnessed frequent power outages and the return of load shedding.
In recent days, citizens have been sharing complaints on social media about frequent power outages in several cities, including Tripoli, Misrata, Zintan, Gharyan, Zawiya, Zliten, and Khoms, as well as areas in the Western Mountains. Citizens confirmed that load shedding hours have exceeded six hours a day in some areas, while in other areas it has extended to a full day, without an official announcement of a unified schedule for outages.
The pages of the General Electricity Company and a number of local pages witnessed hundreds of angry comments, as citizens demanded a halt to the collection and the disconnection of electronic meters, considering that continuing to collect the value of consumption despite the frequent outages is unacceptable, while others called for suspending the payment of bills until the electricity supply stabilizes.
Calls have also intensified on social media to organize protest vigils, amid demands to hold accountable those responsible for the recurring crisis that is renewed every summer, despite previous government promises to improve the network's performance.
In the first technical explanation of the reasons for the crisis, RT quoted a technical source at the General Electricity Company as saying that the increase in load shedding hours is due to the convergence of several factors, most notably the entry of a number of generating units into urgent maintenance and overhaul work, in addition to problems in providing fuel, as well as the large and unexpected increase in electricity consumption rates during the heat wave.
The source explained that the electricity grid is currently producing about 8,000 megawatts, which is double the production that Libya recorded during 2020 and previous years, when production was around 4,000 megawatts. However, the current demand has exceeded 9,500 megawatts, which has caused a continued deficit between production and consumption and imposed great pressure on the electricity grid.
He added that the company is working to bring the South Tripoli power station into service during the second half of July, in cooperation with Siemens, as part of completing the necessary technical work and operational tests.
The source indicated that the station’s entry into service will significantly improve the performance of the electrical grid, especially if it coincides with stable fuel supplies, which will lead to a reduction in load shedding hours, particularly in areas south of Tripoli, including Ain Zara, Al-Mushtal, Salah al-Din, Al-Sidra, and a number of other areas within the capital.
On the official level, the Government of National Unity had directed, on June 9, the General Electricity Company to prepare a technical and operational plan to regulate loads during peak periods, with the aim of maintaining the stability of the electrical grid and ensuring the continuity of supplies. However, the company has not yet issued a new official statement that specifies the load shedding program at the national level or clarifies when the crisis will end.
Earlier in June, the General Electricity Company had warned of a possible energy production deficit exceeding 1,000 megawatts due to a shortage of fuel and gas supplies, which directly impacts the stability of the grid during the summer months.
