The General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) announced the connection of the Third Unit at the Zawia Combined-Cycle Power Plant to the national grid, with a production capacity of 150 MW.
This follows the completion of a major overhaul of the unit, carried out by the US company GE Vernova, the maintenance arm of GE, in collaboration with engineers from GECOL.
It will be recalled that GE Vernova was forced to abandon its maintenance work at the power station in August when the site was targeted by an armed drone.
GE Vernova was also forced to abandon the site for nine days in May due to the nearby 7 May Zawia militia clashes. This contributed to the delay in the maintenance of the power stations.
The original scheduled completion date for maintenance was supposed to be 6 July 2026.
However, GE Vernova also accepted some blame for the delayed commissioning of the Zawia plant due to technical difficulties.
Mobilising extra experts to expediate commissioning
To accelerate completion, GE Vernova mobilized additional engineering expertise and technical resources, both on-site and through remote support from our global engineering teams.
Demonstrations and civil disobedience action to dislodge the Tripoli government
It will be recalled that Libya has been experiencing a very hot summer and lengthy power cuts and blackouts since the end of June.
These have led to demonstrators and activists that have barricaded roads with rubble and burning tyres as well as welded shut gates to state and government buildings over the last two months.
The demonstrators also stormed the Mellitah Gas Complex and temporarily halted gas exports across the GreenStream pipeline to Italy.
The demonstrations ostensibly started their protest objecting to lengthening power cuts and blackouts – but morphed their demonstrations into calls for the downfall of the government and ruling state institutions.
The Tripoli Prime Minister has also sacked the Chairman and Board of GECOL as a result of the power cuts.
In view of this, the return of the Third Unit at the Zawia Power Station to the national grid will be welcome news to the PM, his government and the suffering Libyan public.