Libyan protesters target state institutions amid worsening power crisis

TRIPOLI – Protesters in the Libyan capital intensified demonstrations on Tuesday over prolonged electricity cuts, closing additional government buildings and power facilities despite the resumption of oil and gas production that had been disrupted by earlier unrest.

The latest escalation came after authorities restored operations at the Mellitah oil and gas complex and reopened the El Feel and Wafa oilfields, where production had been suspended after protesters forced their way into the strategic energy facility, raising fears of a nationwide electricity blackout.

Residents angry over worsening living conditions and repeated power outages shut the Tripoli Sub-Control Centre of the General Electricity Company in the the Furnaj/Ain Zara area of Tripoli, along with the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Oil and Gas and the Civil Aviation Authority headquarters, according to local reports.

The closures followed Monday’s protests, when demonstrators blocked access to oil, government and public service facilities, including the Mellitah industrial complex, by erecting earth barriers and preventing employees from entering.

Although security forces later regained control of Mellitah and operations resumed, the continuing shutdown of key state institutions reflected persistent public anger over the electricity crisis and deteriorating public services.

The National Oil Corporation (NOC) said production had resumed at the El Feel and Wafa oilfields after protesters stormed the Mellitah complex, disrupting operations. It also confirmed that work had restarted at the offshore Sabratha platform.

The Government of National Unity (GNU) said security forces had restored control of the Mellitah complex, a joint venture between NOC and Italy’s Eni, and that natural gas supplies to electricity generation plants had resumed.

Earlier, NOC warned that the disruption had halted production completely at El Feel and partially at Wafa, creating severe shortages of fuel and gas needed to operate power stations.

The General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) said several generating units had gone offline, increasing the risk of a widespread collapse of the national power grid before supplies were restored.

Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah ordered the defence ministry and the armed forces to secure the Mellitah complex, reopen gas pipelines and restore supplies to power plants after protesters entered the site and shut gas valves feeding electricity stations.

GECOL described the situation as “extremely critical,” warning that the interruption threatened several power plants and significantly increased the likelihood of a nationwide blackout.

The demonstrations have broadened into one of the largest expressions of public frustration in western Libya in recent months, driven by daily electricity cuts, rising food prices, deteriorating public services and growing living costs.

The Tripoli Social Council issued an urgent warning to the government, urging it to present practical and transparent solutions, backed by clear implementation timetables, to resolve prolonged power cuts, soaring prices for food and drinking water and worsening security conditions across the capital.

The council warned that failure to act could fuel wider civil unrest and further destabilise Tripoli, while calling on protesters to maintain peaceful demonstrations and avoid damaging public infrastructure.

It said peaceful protest remained a legitimate right under Libyan law and expressed readiness to support initiatives aimed at encouraging dialogue, easing economic hardship and preserving social cohesion.

The latest unrest comes as Libya remains politically divided between the UN-recognised Government of National Unity in Tripoli and a rival administration in the east backed by military commander Khalifa Haftar.

Despite holding Africa’s largest proven oil reserves, Libya has suffered repeated disruptions to energy production and public services since the 2011 uprising that toppled Muammar Gadhafi, with political rivalries frequently spilling over into the country’s vital oil and electricity sectors.