Brega Oil Marketing Company has confirmed its full readiness to meet the fuel requirements of the new Tripoli South Power Plant, in accordance with requests from the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL).
The confirmation will come as welcomed news to the Tripoli Libyan government and the Libyan public in view of the acute power cuts and organised load shedding across Libya since June.
These have resulted in a regional total blackout on 18 July, a shutdown of Man-Made River water wells, cuts to industry that have resulted in price rises.
In turn, the acute power cuts and blackout, in combination with high summer temperatures, have resulted in angry protests in the form of demonstrators blockading roads with makeshift fires from gathered waste and tyres. The demonstrators are demanding electricity supplies.
The blackout, attributed to the loss of more than 1,350 megawatts of the network's production capacity, has caused much political and public furore with Tripoli Prime Minister Aldabaiba calling for an investigation of the GECOL management and the public calling for accountability.
The power cuts are partially attributed to a shortage of gas supplies to power stations.
The Tripoli South gas-powered electricity station has production capacity of 1,320 megawatts. The project is being implemented by Turkish company Çalik Enerji, in cooperation with the Germany’s Siemens.
Brega stated that the volume of alternative liquid fuel supplied to the plant during July totalled 21,550 cubic meters. It informed that an agreement is in place to supply the remaining 14,450 cubic meters—bringing the total to the target of 36,000 cubic meters—to support the plant's operational testing phase.
Additionally, the company emphasized the stability of natural gas supplies at a rate of 135 million cubic feet per day to operate the South Tripoli plant's units, thereby enhancing operational readiness and bolstering electricity generation capacity.
Zueitina sixth unit coming online
The confirmation by Brega also comes on the back of GECOL announcing on 21 July that, for the first time, the sixth gas unit at the Zueitina Power Plant has been connected to the national electricity grid with a generation capacity of 250 MW. This follows the completion of upgrade; major overhaul works and operational testing.
GECOL promise of addition power ‘soon’
It will also be recalled that, ironically, GECOL had promised on 15 July – just three days before the blackout - that it will soon be bringing generation units online to contribute to the national grid following the maintenance and the successful completion of operational trials.
The company had explained that the new units will add more than 600 megawatts to the network, distributed over three stations.
Prioritisation of domestic consumers over business consumers
It will also be recalled that the Tripoli government has taken the decision to favour supplying power to domestic users over industrial consumers. This policy has affected some industries, including the cement production sector. This has been reflected in the increased price of cement.
On 15 July, the Libyan Industry Union called for a meeting to discuss the negative effect of the lack of electricity it is being allowed to use - due to power shortages.
Power outages had also shutdown 92 water wells of the Man-Made River.
Egypt to export electricity to eastern Libya
Egyptian media reports, meanwhile, claim that electricity exports to eastern Libya have resumed - starting with an initial capacity of 70 megawatts.
Finally, and to keep these power cuts in perspective, it must also be kept in mind that these power shortages are occurring despite the Tripoli government allocating huge budgets - in the billions - to the electricity generation sector.
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