The second gas turbine of Al-Khums Power Station was operated on Saturday with a total output of 262 megawatts, a step that is likely to reduce the hours of load shedding in the capital.

The operation was attended by Prime Minister of Salvation Government Khalifa Al-Ghawiel, while member of UN-installed Presidency Council Ahmed Mitig, who came to attend the operation, was declared persona non grata in Al-Khums, a city around 120 km to the east of Tripoli.

He and his delegation, including PC-selected steering committee for the General Electricity Company, were ordered to leave the city, local sources revealed.

The UN-installed Presidency Council had appointed a steering committee for the General Electricity Company, but Tripoli Court of Appeal ruled against the appointment and ordered the current management, which is loyal to Salvation Government, to stay in office.

The General Electricity Company said the first gas turbine is expected to be operated later this year with a total output of 262 megawatts.

Every summer, Tripoli goes through long hours of power cuts that reach 12 hours a day amid extreme heat waves coupled with high humidity.