HoR calls GECOL head in for questioning over increased power cuts

By Sami Zaptia.

Tripoli, 1 February 2022:

At its Tobruk session yesterday, the House of Representatives (HoR) has called the head of the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) in for questioning over the increased power cuts this winter and to hear his possible solutions.

It will be recalled that Prime Minister Aldabaiba had upon coming to office promised to end power cuts by the end of the year. This general promise became by the end of December and then by the end of January.

However, power cuts, while improved on the continuous 6, 8, 10 and 12 hour power cuts under Faiez Serraj, are still lengthy and have increased in duration. At the start of winter, they were once a day for 2 to 3 hours. These increased to 3 to 4 hours. Now on many days there are multiple power cuts for 3-4 hours and on some cold days four times a day.

Aldabaiba had made a political point of promising to end the power cuts. He had received money to build two fast track power stations in Tripoli and Misrata. But the power cuts continue, and the sound and smell of power generators continues to dominate Libyan life.

The HoR, while unable to question Aldabaiba himself having demoted his government to a ‘‘caretaker’’ government and plan to remove him from office next week, want to use the head of GECOL as a means to embarrass Aldabaiba and expose him as being ineffective and failing to deliver one of his main promises.

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