The Libyan Industry Union (LIU) yesterday called its members for an Extraordinary Meeting next Sunday 19 July at its Tripoli headquarters to discuss the impact of power and fuel shortages on the industrial sector.
It said it is calling for the urgent meeting considering the serious and recurring disruptions affecting the industrial sector due to power outages and unstable supplies of petroleum products - issues that have caused massive losses for national factories and halted production across many facilities.
It stated that the current situation violates all norms and regulations and threatens the very existence of Libyan industry. It added that, amidst this ongoing crisis, it continues its strenuous efforts to engage with all relevant authorities (the Ministry of Industry, the National Oil Corporation, the General Electricity Company, and the Prime Minister's Office).
Increasing power cuts since June
It will be recalled that there has been increasing power cuts and load shedding since June across Libya. Moreover, the Tripoli government has taken the decision to prioritise power supply to domestic consumers over commercial and industrial users.
Commercial effect of power shortages
The negative consequence of power cuts has been felt by various commercial enterprises in differing ways. Factories have been forced to close, and prices have risen in the cement sector since mid-June, for example.
GECOL promising more power coming online soon
It will be recalled that the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) vowed yesterday that it will be adding an extra 600 MW to the network soon to reduce power cuts and load shedding.
It must also be kept in mind that these power shortages are occurring despite the Tripoli government allocating huge budgets to the electricity generation sector.
Diesel shortage
It will also be borne in mind that there has been a diesel shortage in Libya for most of the first half of 2026. Indeed, diesel shortages have been a recurrent phenomenon for years as successive governments have failed to solve the refining, procurement and import of the fuel for years.
Diesel shortages only affect commercial vans, trucks and lorries and industrial users. They do not get the same media coverage as petrol shortages that have a more significant political effect on governments.
Libya cement prices surge amid ongoing summer power load shedding
