Libya Faces Threat of Total Blackout

The Libyan Electricity Company warned yesterday of the possibility of a total blackout across the national power grid following the shutdown of gas lines in Misrata. In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the ministry said that all employees of the General Electricity Company of Libya had declared a general mobilization, affirming their full readiness to work around the clock to maintain the stability of the power grid and ensure the continuity of energy supplies. The ministry added, “We will spare no effort and will do everything in our power to fulfill our national duty, with a spirit of teamwork and responsibility, so that we can navigate this phase and maintain service continuity across the country.”

For its part, the National Oil Corporation of Libya indicated that oil and gas production had been disrupted at the Misrata industrial complex due to the protest takeover, in addition to a halt in production at the El Feel oil field and the withdrawal of several power generation units from service due to supply shortages.

Protests in western Libya have entered a new phase of escalation following the seizure of the Misrata complex, one of the country’s most prominent oil facilities, coinciding with an expansion of calls for civil disobedience to include sovereign institutions and oil companies, amid mounting pressure demanding the resignation of the Government of National Unity led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh.