Libya orders army to expel protesters from gas plant

Libya’s internationally recognised government has directed the military to reclaim control of the Mellitah gas complex following a protest that disrupted operations, raising fears of a nationwide power outage. The order was issued by Abdelhamid Dbeibah, head of the Government of National Unity (GNU), who instructed the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of the Armed Forces to restore operations and ensure the resumption of gas supply to the country’s power plants. The incident occurred on Monday night, when protesters, frustrated by frequent power cuts, forcibly entered the facility and shut down key gas valves, threatening to disable multiple power plants and destabilise the national grid. According to the electricity company GECOL, the protesters' actions brought the Mellitah complex to a standstill, with officials warning that the disruption could lead to a broader collapse of the power system. The situation was described as “extremely critical,” prompting ongoing negotiations with the demonstrators to secure their departure and restart operations. An unnamed official at the complex noted that the protesters’ presence posed a “high risk” to the functioning of the facility and its control systems. Meanwhile, overnight demonstrations erupted in Tripoli, with crowds dumping trash in front of the headquarters of oil and gas firms while chanting slogans demanding the downfall of the current regime, citing dissatisfaction over energy shortages and rising living costs. The Mellitah gas complex plays a crucial role in Libya’s energy infrastructure, providing natural gas to several power plants responsible for generating electricity within the country. With the nation still grappling with the aftermath of the 2011 uprising that led to the death of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi, the energy crisis has become a recurring issue. The conflict has left Libya politically fragmented, with two competing authorities, Tripoli-based government under the GNU and a rival administration in the eastern part of the country supported by military commander Khalifa Haftar, struggling for dominance. This division has contributed to the instability that continues to affect essential services such as electricity. Recent weeks have seen increased unrest in the Tripoli region, with hundreds of residents staging protests against the persistent power disruptions. These demonstrations reflect growing frustration among civilians, many of whom have endured years of economic hardship and political uncertainty. The latest incident at the Mellitah complex adds to concerns that the country’s fragile state may further deteriorate, particularly given the ongoing competition between the two governing bodies and the lack of a unified strategy to address pressing societal challenges. While efforts are being made to resolve the immediate crisis at the gas plant, the underlying tensions remain unresolved. The GNU’s directive to the military underscores the government’s determination to assert control over critical infrastructure, even as it faces opposition from pro-Haftar factions. The outcome of this confrontation will likely depend on how quickly the protesters can be persuaded to withdraw and whether the military can swiftly restore operations without escalating violence. For now, the focus remains on stabilising the power supply and preventing a wider collapse of the country’s already strained energy sector.