Libya’s NOC & GECOL Discuss Plans to Beat Power Shortage During Summer

Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) held an expanded meeting with the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) and governmental officials to discuss the “development of an urgent action plan to support power generation stations with liquid fuels and gas during the peak summer months.”

The meeting was held at the Corporation’s headquarters in Tripoli on Tuesday. It followed up with GECOL’s preparations for the maintenance work of the power stations, and the quantities required of fuel and gas to operate these stations in coordination with the Senior Consumers Committee.

The meeting also discussed the development of maintenance work for the Mellitah complex during May, and the provision of fuel stations during this period.

Since 2011, Libya has been suffering from a deficit in energy production. GECOL adopts a program of load-shedding hours in various cities and regions. The power cuts at peak times, especially in summer, exceeds 12 hours a day.

In July, the NOC announced the start of gas production from the Al-Faregh field, the country’s largest gas field, to the Sarir power station in the southeast.

According to the statement, the step will contribute to reducing the electric cuts, as the Sarir electrical station enters the network. The Al-Faregh field of the Waha Oil Company is located 60 km to the southwest of the Gallo field.

GECOL has welcomed the decision, saying that the “positive step” would improve the electricity network in all parts of Libya.

In December, GECOL and the US giant energy company General Electric (GE) started major overhaul works of the first gas unit at Al-Khums power station, east of Tripoli.

GECOL said in a press briefing that the “maintenance work will contribute to supporting the electric network and increasing its capacity. These efforts aim to follow up and maintain the rest of the generation units that were stopped for technical reasons.”