The mayor of Zliten, Muftah Ahmadi, has warned that the worsening fuel shortage in the city is crippling essential services and threatening food security, as dozens of bakeries shut down operations and electricity blackouts continue to plague residents.
In remarks to local media, Hammadi said that repeated power cuts are directly linked to a shortage of diesel fuel, which has left many generators idle. The closure of several fuel stations has further aggravated the crisis, making it increasingly difficult to keep the power grid functioning.
The impact has been severe. “This shortage has forced 35 bakeries to close, leaving residents without access to bread and threatening the city’s food security,” Hammadi explained. He added that the fragile electricity network in Zliten is in urgent need of maintenance, but repairs remain difficult due to limited resources.
According to the mayor, the crisis is worsened by a shortage of skilled workers. Many of the technicians at the national electricity company are aging and unable to provide the technical support required to address growing problems, leaving the network vulnerable to further breakdowns.
Hammadi also stressed that the crisis extends beyond electricity and food. Zliten is facing serious disruptions to its water supply, compounding the daily struggles of its residents. “The accumulation of these problems shows the urgent need for immediate intervention from the relevant authorities,” he said, urging comprehensive measures to secure fuel supplies, upgrade infrastructure, and ensure basic services.
For ordinary citizens, the crisis is visible everywhere. Long queues at fuel stations, frequent blackouts, and shortages of bread have become a part of daily life. Residents say the closure of bakeries has hit especially hard, adding food insecurity to the long list of challenges.
