The Municipality of Tripoli Centre revealed yesterday that it is to pilot a programme requiring cafes and restaurants to close at 10:00 PM. This is part of its efforts to rationalize energy consumption.
Libya's summer 2026 electricity crisis
Libya is going through an acute electricity crisis since mid-June with extensive and frequent power cuts and blackouts. These have led to violent demonstrations, road blockades, and the barricading of state buildings. There were some half-hearted attempts at road closures overnight too, with the usual setting of rubbish and tyres on fire.
Knock-on effects of the power cuts
Power cuts have had knock-on effects, including telecommunications interruptions, a spike in the price and demand for diesel for generators, bread shortages and price hikes, a loss of production by industries, closures of clinics etc. All these have at times threatened to bring down the Aldabaiba government.
The Municipality said the early closure of cafes and restaurants is due to the significant energy consumption of electric cooking equipment and ovens. The pilot programme will be implemented and monitored in coordination with the municipality, the municipal guard, and the electricity police.
Meeting the new GECOL Chairman
The proposal was revealed during the Municipality’s meeting yesterday with the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) which included the Mayor, Fadel Abu Argoub with the new GECOL Chairman Bashir Al-Marash, the Vice Chairman and the General Manager of GECOL.
Marash has already distinguished himself by being more informative to the public and his meeting with the municipality already sets his PR style apart from his predecessor.
During the meeting, the municipality assured electricity company officials that every megawatt saved through organized conservation will directly benefit citizens and contribute to longer hours of electricity availability and more stable service in central Tripoli, especially during this period which requires the cooperation of institutions, the private sector, and citizens.
South Tripoli power station is nearing commissioning
The municipality reported that during the meeting, officials from GECOL confirmed that the South Tripoli power station is ''nearing'' commissioning and is expected to contribute to supporting the grid and improving the stability of the electricity supply, which strengthens hopes for a gradual improvement in the coming period. GECOL did not, however, give a precise date of when the new power station will come online.
Need for a fair distribution of power loads
The municipality stressed to GECOL the need for a fair distribution of power loads across all areas of Tripoli, emphasizing that citizens must bear the brunt of power outages equally, without any unjustified disparities between districts.
Youth vigilante attacking substations
The perception of unfair load shedding has led to some vigilante youth storming GECOL substations and forcing its employees to return power to their areas. Some of these vigilantes, on the other hand, are evicting GECOL employees and ignorantly turning switches on themselves.
This is believed to have been the cause of yesterday's explosion and fire at substation 16 in Sug Il Juma. GECOL warned that these actions could result in a domino effect leading to a blackout.
Rationalising public electricity nighttime use
The municipality also announced its intention to be the first municipality to mandate all public and governmental entities and institutions within its jurisdiction rationalize their electricity consumption during nighttime hours.
This includes switching off unnecessary air conditioning and lighting, in coordination and joint supervision with the Electricity Police, the municipality, and the Municipal Guard. The municipality said a circular regarding this matter was already issued by the municipality yesterday.