Mellitah Industrial Complex Restarts Operations After Protester Stoppa

Mellitah Industrial Complex announced today that (gas pumping) operations have resumed after a brief stoppage in the early hours of the day.

This was followed by an announcement by GECOL stating electric generation activity had also returned to normal - after warning of a possible blackout.

The Mellitah Complex stoppage was caused by demonstrators forcing their way into the complex to purportedly express their grievance against Libya’s ongoing extended power cuts. There have been demonstrations and state buildings and roads have been blockaded across western Libya and Tripoli.

Mellitah Oil and Gas
In its statement at 11.57 am Libya time today, Mellitah Oil and Gas (Libya) said: ‘‘Thanks to the efforts of the (Tripoli) Government of National Unity and the National Oil Corporation, as well as the endeavours of well-intentioned individuals from neighbouring areas, we reassure everyone that operations have resumed at the Mellitah Industrial Complex. The complex has once again begun receiving oil and gas from onshore and offshore fields and is resuming supplies to major consumers via the local gas network’’.

GECOL statement warns of a total blackout
The Mellitah statement was proceeded by a series of statements by the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL), the National Oil Corporation (NOC) and the Tripoli Libyan government reflecting the country’s electricity crises the events that it has precipitated.

At 6.45 am Libya time today, GECOL announced that groups had entered the Mellitah Complex and shut down the gas pipelines supplying power generation plants. This action, it warned, threatens to take several generation units out of service and increases the likelihood of a total grid blackout.

‘‘Acting out of a sense of national responsibility—and as the entity charged with providing electricity to citizens and all public and private sectors—the Company disclaims responsibility before the Libyan people and official authorities for any consequences arising from the continued disruption of gas supplies needed to operate generation units.

Critical situation
The Company emphasizes that the situation is critical; the continued drop in gas pressure could cause generation units to shut down successively, potentially leading to a total grid collapse and a complete blackout, unless urgent measures are taken to restore gas flow and resume supply to the power plants’’.

Statement by the Tripoli government: Order issued to secure Mellitah Complex
At 8.49 am Libya time today, the Tripoli based Libyan government announced that it had issued orders to secure Mellitah Complex and protect power infrastructure

‘‘Following the closure by a group of the gas pipelines supplying power generation plants at the Mellitah Complex—an action that directly threatens the stability of the electrical grid and risks a nationwide blackout—Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Aldabaiba issued immediate directives to the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff. He ordered urgent action to establish full control over the Mellitah Complex, secure the site, reopen the gas lines, and resume supply to the power plants without delay.

The (Tripoli) Government of National Unity affirms that oil, gas, and electricity facilities are sovereign assets under the exclusive authority of the state. Any attempt to disrupt, halt, or obstruct the operation of these facilities—or to hinder their personnel—will be met with decisive state action in accordance with the law. No entity will be permitted to threaten energy security or compromise vital facilities essential to the lives of the Libyan people.

Furthermore, the government asserts that it will not allow demands or circumstances to be exploited to advance agendas aimed at destabilizing the country or precipitating artificial crises that affect citizens' safety and daily lives. The state will assert full sovereignty over all vital facilities and will not tolerate any actions that threaten national security or disrupt strategic and essential infrastructure.’’

Statement by the NOC:
This was followed by a statement at 8.57 am by the NOC:

‘‘The National Oil Corporation (NOC) is monitoring with grave concern the serious developments resulting from the storming and closure of the Mellitah Industrial Complex by a group of protesters in the early hours of Tuesday, July 28, 2026, and the subsequent halt in operational activities and disruption of natural gas production and supplies.

The Mellitah Complex is the primary source of gas supplies for the coastal pipeline. These developments have led to a complete halt in production at the El Feel field and a partial shutdown of operations at the Wafa field. This has caused a severe shortage of the gas and fuel required to operate power plants, resulting in several generation units going offline.

The continuation of this situation threatens the stability of the public electricity grid and could lead to further generation unit failures, raising the risk of widespread or even total blackouts if the situation is not urgently addressed. Furthermore, it poses risks to the safety of facilities and personnel, presents complex technical challenges, and results in significant losses in production and national revenue.

The NOC emphasizes that the safety of personnel and the continuity of operations are top priorities. The oil and gas sector is a vital sovereign asset; its facilities are strategic infrastructure that must be protected and shielded from any actions that could disrupt production or harm the interests of the state and its citizens. Acting on its national responsibility, the Corporation appeals to the competent authorities to intervene urgently to secure the Mellitah Industrial Complex and protect oil facilities. It calls for enabling technical teams to safely and immediately resume operations, thereby ensuring the restoration of gas supplies and the stability of essential services—foremost among them, electricity.

The Corporation also urges all parties to prioritize the national interest and shield the oil and gas sector from any political wrangling or actions that could harm the country’s assets. It affirms its right to declare ‘‘force majeure’’ should these conditions persist and the resumption of operations remain impossible, while continuing to closely monitor the situation and take necessary measures to ensure worker safety and restore production as quickly as possible.

The Corporation emphasizes that protecting the oil and gas sector is a shared national responsibility and that maintaining its production and operations is a cornerstone of state stability and the fulfilment of citizens' needs. It calls on all parties to cooperate in overcoming this crisis and sparing the country its repercussions’’.

GECOL: Gradual return of grid to normal operational
At 12.34 pm, GECOL announced: ‘‘Following the resumption of operations at the Mellitah Industrial Complex and the restoration of natural gas supplies to power generation plants, the electrical grid has begun a gradual return to normal operational status. This is expected to result in improved electricity supply over the coming hours.

The Company notes that the grid was on the verge of gradual improvement—thanks to the sustained technical and operational efforts made by its teams over the past weeks to address the crisis and maintain the stability of the electrical system—but an unexpected incident today temporarily disrupted this progress.

The Company affirms that current operational indicators are promising and that the crisis is generally moving toward a gradual resolution, God willing, as generation units return to service, and grid performance improves.

The Company also reiterates the necessity of keeping vital institutions and facilities free from any political tensions or actions that could impact essential services, to safeguard citizens' interests and ensure the continued functioning of public utilities’’.

GECOL announces a state of emergency
In a later announcement, GECOL announced a state of general alert among all its employees, stressing its full readiness to work around the clock in order to maintain the stability of the electrical network and the sustainability of energy supply, in light of current developments.‎

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