Since Wednesday afternoon, there has been no electricity in the entire civil war country of Libya. Electricity was shut off for “engineering experiments” in the course of grid renewals, the state-owned General Electricity Company said Wednesday.
The company had not previously announced the blackout. After the work is completed, the electricity will start flowing again. When that will be, however, is unknown. According to the state-owned company, the conversion would be carried out in collaboration with Siemens.
Since the Arab Spring in 2011, Libya has experienced almost daily power outages. In the past there were often shutdowns because the grid was overloaded. However, the situation has since improved, also because more foreign companies have been involved in repairs and the stabilization of the electricity grid for several years.
When entire districts of Tripoli sink into darkness on hot summer nights, the hum of private power generators characterizes the acoustic cityscape, Reuters reporters reported last year. In addition to darkness, the pungent smell of smoke from the diesel engines would also blanket the city.
Electricity crisis protests
Even for those who can afford the generators, buying fuel is difficult and expensive. Hours of waiting are inevitable. The arid desert state in North Africa has large oil and gas reserves. However, fuel is sometimes scarce in the country itself. In addition, the machines often break down.
Power outages, sometimes lasting more than 24 hours and often shutting down entire parts of the internet, affect almost all aspects of life. In recent months, there have been repeated large protests because of the electricity crisis in the country.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
