Protesters have stormed a key energy complex in western Libya, closing gas lines that supply power plants and raising fears of a nationwide blackout. The General Electricity Company issued a warning Tuesday that the incident at the Mellitah Oil & Gas complex, located about 55 miles west of Tripoli, could lead to a collapse of the electricity network.
Demonstrations have been ongoing for several days across western Libya, including in Zawiya, Tripoli, and Misrata. Residents are protesting prolonged power outages and demanding improved electricity services and the resignation of the Government of Unity, led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.
Libya has been in a state of instability since the 2011 uprising that overthrew dictator Moammar Gadhafi. The country subsequently fractured, with rival administrations in the east and west supported by militias and foreign powers. Dbeibah currently leads the internationally recognized government in Tripoli, while an administration in the east is headed by Osama Hammad, with military commander Khalifa Hifter holding influence there.