ممحاة إزالة الشعر
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🛒 تسوق الآنEconomic Expert Warns: Libya May Face Total Blackout as Electricity Crisis Worsens
Economic Expert Warns: Libya May Face Total Blackout as Electricity Crisis Worsens
Protests Shut Down Gas Supply Lines, Threatening Nationwide Grid Collapse
Libya is hurtling toward a complete electricity blackout after protesters shut down gas supply lines feeding power generation stations at the Mellitah industrial complex, 115 kilometers west of Tripoli. The General Electricity Company declared a state of national emergency Tuesday, warning that the country's electrical grid faces imminent total collapse.
The protests, which erupted Monday across Tripoli and several western cities, reflect mounting public fury over chronic power outages reaching 10 hours or more daily during a punishing summer heatwave. While demonstrators blocked roads and occupied government buildings, the closure of Mellitah's gas lines marked a dangerous escalation — directly threatening the fuel supply for electricity generation.
Economic Expert Warns of Total Darkness
Dr. Mohamed Youssef Darmish, former supervisor of the economic and social affairs file at the National Center for Studies and Scientific Research, told Ean Libya that the country now faces a realistic prospect of total blackout. "This has become a natural possibility under the circumstances the state is going through," Darmish warned.
He attributed the crisis to multiple interconnected factors: political divisions and their repercussions, severe mismanagement of financial resources, poor leadership selection, and decades of failed planning. Darmish noted that Libya attempted to expand maintenance operations and develop alternative energy through solar and wind projects between 2006 and 2011, but these initiatives were never completed.
Oil Fields Halt Production as Crisis Spreads
The National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced Tuesday the complete halt of production at the Al-Feel oil field and a partial halt at the Al-Wafa field, compounding the crisis. These disruptions threaten not only electricity generation but also Libya's primary source of national income. According to the NOC, the shutdown of gas supply lines at Mellitah has created a chain reaction impacting both domestic power generation and export capacity.
Electricity Company Declares State of Emergency
The General Electricity Company's declaration of a national alert aims to enable staff to respond to what it described as an event beyond workers' control. However, Darmish emphasized that the core problem lies in poor planning, not in the performance of electricity sector employees. "The impact of power outages on the Libyan economy is enormous, given that electricity enters every aspect of life," he explained, warning that continued outages directly hamper economic activity and national income.
Decades of Neglect and Mismanagement
Libya's electricity crisis is not recent. Darmish pointed out that the state has struggled since the mid-2000s to build sustainable energy infrastructure. The failure to complete renewable energy projects left the country entirely dependent on gas-fired power plants, now vulnerable to both fuel supply disruptions and aging infrastructure. Political divisions between competing governments have further paralyzed decision-making.
"The misuse of funds and resources, poor selection of leadership, and poor planning — these are the real reasons we have arrived at this dangerous crossroads," Darmish stated.
Broader Economic Fallout
The electricity crisis comes at a particularly damaging time for Libya's economy. While the oil sector showed its strongest performance in over a decade in mid-2026, current disruptions threaten to reverse those gains. Darmish stressed that poor management of the electricity file creates a vicious cycle that drains national revenue.
Citizens are already feeling the pain. Beyond daily frustration of 10-hour blackouts in scorching temperatures, businesses are shutting down, food spoilage is widespread, and water pumps — dependent on electricity — have stopped functioning in many areas.
Calls for De-escalation and Unity
Darmish urged decision-makers to protect strategic institutions and called on citizens to pursue legitimate demands through proper channels without violence. He appealed to political elites, leaders, public figures, and media organizations to contribute to calming the situation. "The continuation of this crisis carries serious repercussions that will affect the entirety of human life in the country," he concluded. "Everyone must work together to avoid the worst."
— Libya Press / Economy Desk
