Here is what we know about the cause of current total blackouts in western Libya:
How did Tripoli total blackout start?
- An armed group from Zawiya seized a truck with a container full of tobacco for a man from Wirshiffana.
- An armed group from Wirshiffana kidnapped several people from Zawiya city in retaliation.
- Relatives of the abductees, many are armed, closed the gas pipeline that feeds the main power plant of 1200 MW in Zawiya on January 09, demanding release of their sons.
- Zawiya power plant is the main power supplier of the capital, in addition to south Tripoli and Khomis power plants. Ruwais power plant in Nafousa Mountain - about 795 MW output - feeds towns of the region there.
- The General Electricity Company (GECOL) warned about an imminent total blackout in the western region if the gas pipeline was not reopened.
-A total blackout occurred on January 14 from Ras Ajdir in west Libya to Ajdabia in the east.
- Engineers of GECOL managed to re-operate the power generators after several hours.
- Another total blackout occurred on January 17 due to the high power demand and low output.
- Some cities (Khomis and Zawiya, Zintan, Nafousa Mountain towns) and a district in Tripoli (Abu Salim) are refusing to experience rolling blackouts.
- Refusal resulted in long hours of blackouts in other cities.
- GECOL says power demand has increased to 7500 MW while output is about 4500 MW.
