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By Moutaz Mathi.
Tripoli, 13 June 2016:
The General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) has warned that the power supply to Tripoli could collapse completely because of the refusal by certain areas in the city, such as Abu Sleem, and elsewhere to accept power cuts.
Power cuts for much of the capital are running at over 12 hours a day.
In a statement today, GECOL said that it could not be held responible what might happen to the electricity supply throughout western Libya because of action in some areas where militias had physically threatened its employees to ensure that the power remained on. It mentioned Misrata, Zawyia, Khoms and the Jebel Nafusa mountain as refusing to share in the pain of power cuts experienced in Tripoli.
Even in the capital, there are areas that have not suffered because of threats.
In Abu Sleem, controversial militia leader Abdulghani Kekli (usually known as Ghenaiwa), is reported to have threatened GECOL staff not to cut power to the district.
“We are enjoying full time power with not even a single hour of cuts for three days now,” Kamal, an Abu Sleem resident, told the Libya Herald. “Many thanks to our strong man Ghenaiwa,” he added with what appear a genuine smile.
On Sunday, Central Tripoli municipal councillor Nasser Alikrewi issued a similar warning that the network could collapse.
