Protests have reignited in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, following a third widespread blackout in two days, exacerbating public anger over the decline in basic services. Most areas in the south and west, including Tripoli, have been affected by these outages over the past 24 hours. Libyans have endured extensive power cuts throughout the summer due to attacks on key energy assets, an overwhelmed grid from years of underinvestment, and increased demand driven by a prolonged heatwave.
The UN Special Representative for Libya, Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, highlighted the country's "striking paradox" during a Security Council meeting. Despite approximately $1 billion being spent monthly on fuel imports, the electricity systems remain susceptible to fuel shortages. Tetteh also raised concerns about the alleged large-scale diversion of subsidized fuel within the electricity and security sectors, urging for enhanced oversight, accountability, and coordination to ensure public resources are properly utilized for essential services.
The power crisis has previously triggered protests, including one where over 100 demonstrators dumped rubbish outside a Libyan oil company, demanding an end to the prolonged power outages. In July, protesters briefly cut gas flows to power plants and caused a key oil field, El-Feel, to temporarily halt output. Attacks have also impacted the Zawiya energy hub, with drone strikes causing over 700 MW of the 1,300 MW Zawiya plant to become unavailable. The National Oil Corporation warned last week that continued attacks could lead to a declaration of force majeure on exports from Zawiya.
The deteriorating energy system is placing additional strain on the fragile political equilibrium between Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah's government in the west and the Haftar family's power base in the east. While Libya is currently producing around 1.4 million barrels per day and aims to increase output to 2 million bpd by the early 2030s, the substantial oil revenues have not translated into reliable electricity services for the population. This public discontent further pressures the existing political arrangement, which Washington has been trying to solidify into a more formal settlement while encouraging US oil companies to expand their presence in the country.
