Power has been restored to Tripoli today after wide and lengthy power cuts yesterday reaching 8 hours in some areas.
The power cuts were caused by unauthorised excavation work by contractors damaged a main power line.
The severity and breadth of the power cuts led Libya’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Sadig al-Ghariani, to comment that power cuts of up to 8 hours in Sabratha and several areas must have been premeditated, noting that the Tripoli Aldabaiba government should not allow such an incident to happen.
Meanwhile, the state General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) called on the Attorney General to open an urgent investigation into the damage caused to what it called one of the most important high-voltage power transmission cables (220 kV), linking the western Tripoli suburb of Janzour and Sidi Hamed areas, within the area of Sidi Abdel Jalil.
GECOL confirmed that this infringement was carried out by the contractors Tripoli Public Works Company and Ashghal Tunis, which it said represents a direct threat to the stability of the electrical network in the capital, Tripoli, given the importance of the line that connects and feeds vital stations, most notably Fashloum, Al-Jalaa, and Ben Hamed.
GECOL bemoaned that such infringements have been repeated on more than one occasion without an effective deterrent, which leads to severe negative effects on the quality and continuity of electrical service provided to citizens.
GECOL further warned of the serious consequences of such irresponsible behaviour (by contractors), and stated that it holds the two companies concerned fully legally responsible. It demanded that all the contractors’ work be stopped immediately, and that the necessary legal measures be taken against those responsible.
