Energy Crisis Paralyses Africa's Top Oil Producer

Long power cuts and severe fuel shortages have disrupted daily life across Libya, a country holding Africa's largest oil reserves yet grappling with enduring political deadlock, conflict and corruption, AFP reported via Arab News on 28 August.

As summer heat peaks, the outlet said the worst crisis in years has left many Libyans struggling to keep their homes, cars and businesses running. Experts and UN officials cited in the report attribute the root of the problem to corruption, weak governance and years of inadequate maintenance at power plants.

Libya holds around 48 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and produces roughly 1.5 million barrels a day, with plans to raise output to 2 million barrels a day. Yet the country covers only a third of its domestic fuel needs from local production.

For ordinary residents, the report described spoiled food, closed businesses and reliance on costly private generators as the crisis bites, with Tripoli grocer Slimane Fitouri telling AFP that outages had already broken two of his refrigerators and spoiled his dairy stock.