After three electricity blackouts in two days from Sirte to the Tunisian border, and including all of southern Libya, the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) said work of the Operation and Control teams continue to gradually restore electricity to various regions.
This is being done according to an operational plan that ensures the stability of the network and the safe and organized return of electricity supply.
‘‘Rebuilding the grid’’ – public urged to be patient
Meanwhile, the beleaguered Libyan public are urged to be patient and understand what it takes to ‘‘rebuild the grid’’.
Power is being restored in the western region gradually as GECOL starts to rebuild the grid. However, the public cannot understand why the grid is not being turned on, with the flick of a switch, instantly.
For example, some turbine units are currently operating in ‘‘Island Mode’’, meaning they are self-powered. Operating turbines in island mode means running a turbine-generator as a standalone power source disconnected from the main utility grid.
The turbine must independently control its own voltage and frequency while instantly matching local power demand to prevent system instability or tripping offline.
This does not mean they can be directly connected to the grid. For any unit to be connected, proper synchronization of frequency, voltage, and phase angle is essential; otherwise, the unit could suffer significant damage.
In the event of a complete grid failure (blackout), voltage must first be gradually restored, and then units brought online one by one in a carefully planned manner.
In other words, it's not simply a matter of starting the unit and increasing production. Rebuilding the grid is a delicate process requiring calculated steps - and time.
Worse power cuts since the 2011 revolution?
Time and patience are very much in shortage of supply in most of Libya as the public has had to suffer levels of power cuts not endured since the early years after the 2011 revolution. This after the Aldabaiba government, by his own admission, had spent billions of dollars improving the network.
Libyans are asking many questions but so far are not getting any answers,
Tripoli Electricity Police: Najma Substation fire seems to have been caused by an overload
Meanwhile, Tripoli Electricity Police has now reported that ''initial'' inspections indicate that the fire at the Najma Substation (cable at the 11 kV substation in the Al-Najma Street area) was caused by an overload within the substation – rather than a criminal act.
The Najma Substation fire was initially attributed to have contributed to the collapse in the grid and its shutdown.
Widespread Power Blackouts Disrupt Infrastructure in Western Libya