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Libya's GECOL responds to Prime Minister Aldabaiba's criticism amid power crisis
via Libya Herald2 min read
Libya's General Electricity Company GECOL has responded to Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Aldabaiba's public criticism, following increasing power cuts and a total blackout. Aldabaiba had called for serious charges against GECOL's head during a cabinet meeting on July 18. GECOL, through leaked documents, stated it had warned of 1,000 megawatts of power generation loss due to gas and heavy fuel shortages, attributing this to a drop in gas pressure from southwestern fields and the government's failure to address the issue. GECOL claimed it formally requested a temporary halt to gas exports to Italy to meet domestic needs, but this request was ignored. The company also reported that recent clashes in Zawia damaged the Zawia power plant, causing a loss of approximately 700 megawatts, and that engineers from US company GE fled the country as a result. GECOL stated its Director General, Abdalla Hamouda, had formally notified Aldabaiba and the Attorney General's Office on June 4 about the severity of the situation caused by fuel shortages, urging immediate intervention to prevent network instability. The ongoing electricity crisis and Aldabaiba's reaction raise questions about government policies regarding fuel supplies, electricity price subsidies, and support for renewable energy.
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