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By Ahmed Elumami.
Tripoli, 27 November 2013:
Libyan electricity generation is now “at its lowest level” since the revolution because of politically-driven fuel . . .[restrict]blockades by Amazigh and Tebus, the Minister of Electricity, Ali Muhairiq, has said.
Responding to fresh electricity cuts in the capital, the minister told reporters that the Amazigh had closed the gas pipeline running from the Al-Wafa field in southwest Libya to the Ruwais Power station that serves much of Tripoli, while Tebus have been blockading the Sarir field in eastern Libya. He said that output was now at 4,600 megawatts.
In the Summer, it was at around 6,000 megawatts when there were extensive power cuts in the capital. The only reason why there were more outages then was because of the massive use of air conditioning.
Muhairiq added that GECOL (General Company for Electricity) had told him it would close Sarir power station within the next 24 hours if the blockade persisted.
He emphasised that the exploitation of the oil fields as “a way of pressurising” the government to address political demands was unacceptable and was counter to the country’s interests.
Pointing out that winter was approaching and that and people needed electricity for heating, he called the Amazigh and Tebu to pursue their demands for political rights “in a civilised manner”, and not by closing oil fields.
The Amazigh are demanding more seats on the 60-member Constitutional Committee while the Tebus want an independent Tebu local council in Kufra as well as improved infrastructure there and in Reybana. [/restrict]
