The General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) announced today that all its power stations in eastern Libya (Sarir, Zueitina and Benghazi North) are ready to operate.
This it added, is subject to it receiving the correct volumes and pumping pressures of gas from the National Oil Corporation (NOC).
Subject to this condition being met, it anticipated that electricity would be generated by Friday night or Saturday morning.
Lengthy power cuts, violent demonstrations and recent GECOL turmoil
It will be recalled that the GECOL board of directors, led by chairman Wiam Al-Abdali, had been suspended and referred to administrative investigation by the Aldabaiba government on 26 June.
Aldabaiba appointed the head of the Tripoli Public Services Company, Mohamed Ismail, as the new temporary General Manager, and appointed himself as the new chairman of the GECOL board of directors.
This comes on the back of Libya’s electricity generation crisis that has led to violent nationwide protests, road blockades and the burning of official buildings.
Power cuts are still widespread across the country, mostly for five-hour intervals. Diesel prices have gone up in parallel to the increased power cuts.
Prime Minister Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba admitted that he had underestimated the extent of Libya’s electricity crisis.
It was revealed that electricity consumption in Libya had reached a new all-time peak of 9,000 MW in 2022. This was a staggering 1,200 MW increase on 2021.
It was then announced that the suspended GECOL board of directors was reinstated until the GECOL General Assembly meets to appoint its replacement on 17 July. The committee set up by Aldabaiba to investigate the suspended GECOL board also said they needed to have access to the board in order to gather facts for their investigations.
Some good news on electricity?
However, GECOL had since announced several units at the new fast tracked Misrata (350 MW) and Tripoli West (185 MW) power station had started experimental operation. All things being equal with the tests, both are expected to go into full operation ‘‘within the coming days’’. The other units are expected to go online soon.
Lengthy power cuts lead to GECOL head Abdali being suspended (libyaherald.com)
Misrata fast track power station expected to enter service end of June (libyaherald.com)
Tripoli West Fast Track power station about to enter production: GECOL (libyaherald.com)
