For more than two months, Libyan cities have been gripped by one of the country’s most severe electricity crises in years. Blackouts lasting between 7 and 12 hours a day have become the norm, disrupting daily life, crippling economic activity, and deepening frustration among a population already burdened by political instability and insecurity.
The power cuts, officially described as “load-shedding,” have spiraled into a chronic national emergency. In southern Libya, some towns report outages exceeding 12 continuous hours, devastating farmers who rely on electric pumps to irrigate crops and cool livestock. In the north and west, blackouts average between seven and ten hours daily, a stark reminder of the grid’s inability to keep pace with growing demand.
Ordinary Libyans voice a common complaint: the absence of clear explanations from the General Electricity Company or government officials. With no transparent communication on the underlying causes, the public is left in the dark, literally and figuratively, fueling anger, mistrust, and a sense of abandonment.
The Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energies in the parliament-appointed government announced this week an emergency rehabilitation plan in Benghazi’s Al-Fuakat district, supported by the Reconstruction and Development Fund. Officials say the initiative is a first step in a broader national effort to stabilize the grid. The ministry pledged that these interventions will not only address immediate needs but also form part of a long-term plan to improve reliability and efficiency.
Meanwhile, Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) has floated the idea of reviving a large natural gas project in partnership with the Arabian Gulf Oil Company (AGOCO) as a potential long-term solution to persistent power shortages. Analysts note that boosting gas supply could provide a more sustainable foundation for electricity generation in the future.
Yet many observers argue that Libya’s electricity crisis is less about temporary shortages and more about decades of neglect. Years of underinvestment, aging power plants, poor maintenance, and weak governance have eroded the system. Political division and competing authorities have further paralyzed planning and execution. Despite repeated promises, successive governments have failed to deliver meaningful results, leaving households and businesses in constant uncertainty.
