Libya power outages disable Great Man-Made River water pumping stations

A widespread power outage has struck western and central Libya, causing a total shutdown of the Great Man-Made River water pumping system. The blackout, triggered by the Al-Khums power station going offline, has halted operations from wellfields to major pumping stations in Tarhuna and Al-Rabta, threatening water supplies for communities dependent on this critical infrastructure.

The electricity crisis is part of a broader pattern of instability in Libya, characterized by persistent power cuts, drone attacks on fuel and water facilities, and rising black-market prices for diesel. While the government has attempted to mitigate social unrest by diverting electricity from industry to domestic users, the situation has led to significant public discontent and calls for leadership changes.

Recent developments include the removal of the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) chairman and an attempted resignation of the Central Bank of Libya governor. Observers suggest that the country's energy and water security issues stem from systemic institutional failures and decades of wasted subsidies rather than mere personnel changes.