1. Invitation to international companies
2. Energy transition in Libya
3. Recovery of the electricity service
4. Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy

The Libyan Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Awad Al-Badri, says that Libya has signed contracts and memoranda of understanding with international companies, including several Spanish companies such as RIC Energy, to develop a major investment project in renewable energy as the future of energy production and supply for his country, as a complement to fossil fuels such as oil.

Specifically, the Spanish company is going to participate in the field of solar and photovoltaic energy in one of the projects that expects to achieve 3,000 MW. The minister explains that Libya has large reserves of high-quality oil and gas that it uses for the industrial development of the country, but as the person responsible for energy in Libya ‘we have decided to undertake the transition to renewable energy, also taking advantage of our climate with the sun and wind on our coasts’.

He also emphasised that these projects are part of the efforts of the Libyan Development and Reconstruction Fund, led by the engineer Belqasim Khalifa Haftar, which strengthens the stability of the electricity grid in Libya.

Invitation to international companies

Awad Al-Badri recalls that Libya participates in the United Nations COPs on climate change and is committed to the transition from fossil energy to renewable energy and has therefore launched the major 3,000MW solar and photovoltaic energy project. ‘We have started the first phase in the town of Derna with 120 MW and we have other projects underway that include the recovery of those infrastructures that were unfortunately damaged by the war, especially generation.’ 

The minister insists once again that Libya is developing its strategy and has begun to move away from fossil fuels towards renewable energies, at a steady pace, with the 3,000 MW project. 

‘Furthermore,’ he points out, ‘we see how our neighbouring countries such as Egypt, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are developing major renewable energy projects and companies from these countries are collaborating on a 1,460 MW project in Wam Dam’. 

The minister considers that ‘Libya’s current relationship with Spanish companies is very good and everyone knows that they are top-level in terms of knowledge, management and experience with renewable energies, especially wind and solar’.

He trusts that the media will convey the true situation in Libya in a way that ‘can convince international companies who have reservations about the political situation to visit Libya and see for themselves the security and stability guaranteed by the Libyan National Army, the recovery and development, and decide to invest and participate in renewable energy projects. We invite all companies from anywhere in the world, such as China, Europe and America, to come to Libya so that we can negotiate good deals.’

He adds, ‘We want European companies to come and participate in our projects and to know that we offer guarantees of legal security so that, among other things, they can repatriate their profits. They should know that it is the Parliament that approves the projects and guarantees their legality and legitimacy.’

Energy transition in Libya

Libya is already looking to the future and working to facilitate the transition from fossil to renewable energy, for which a commission was created in 2022, explains the director of the ministry’s project office, Salem Shuaib. In addition, a non-binding motion has been passed with the aim of accelerating investment in renewable energy.

There are projects on the table to create partnerships with European Union (EU) countries. Specifically, there is a study to create a solar energy facility in Tobruk and transfer it to Greece via undersea cables.

In total, the renewable energy investment project drawn up by the ministry reaches 3,000 MW, which is the potential that it aspires to reach from the current 3 MW. Among the international companies that are collaborating in this project is a Spanish company.

Recovery of the electricity service

‘Since 2011 there had been power cuts of up to 12 hours. It was a huge challenge to repair all the damage left by the war, despite the political division, which influences budgets and has a negative impact on citizens,’ explains the Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Awad Al-Badri.

All development projects were blocked in 2011 with the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, which led to the country being ruled by two rival governments: the Government of National Unity (GNU) of Abdelhamid Dbeibah recognised by the UN and established in Tripoli (west), and the executive of Benghazi (east) elected by the parliament chaired by Osama Hammad and with security guaranteed by the Libyan National Army under the command of Marshal Jalifa Haftar.

Then, to restore the electricity supply, emergency facilities had to be created, with which the deficits have been overcome. The production deficit was 3,000 MW, as before 2011 production was between 4,500 and 5,000 MW and demand exceeds 8,000 MW.

‘70% of the network is inactive because the multinationals that were working in Libya left, like the Spanish company Cobra. As a ministry, we are calling for this and other companies to return to Libya,’ emphasises Al-Badri. The minister believes that ‘many people exaggerate what is happening in Libya and take advantage of the political division’.

He emphasises that ‘despite the political division there is total support for the ministry’. He cites as an example the torrential rain that fell in 2023 in Derna and the fact that the ministry’s actions to solve the problem restored electricity to homes within three days.

As a medium-term strategy, it highlights the ministry’s renewal of the strategic lines for the transmission of electricity from Benghazi to the Green Mountain region, where it is very cold in winter and there is high demand.

The body responsible for the management of the electricity sector in Libya includes four main entities: 

1. The General Electricity Company 
2. The Executive Authority for Renewable Energy 
3. The National Electricity Control Company 
4. The Electricity Protection Department (Electricity Police) 

Since its creation three years ago, the Ministry has developed three strategic plans for the development of the electricity sector: 

1. A short-term plan 
2. A medium-term plan 
3. A long-term plan 

The aim of the short-term plan was to address all the problems of the electricity grid in various cities and regions under the control of the Libyan government, whether in the areas of production, transmission or distribution. 

Among the projects implemented to support the grid are: 

• Tobruk Emergency Power Plant, with a capacity of 800 megawatts 
• Misrata Emergency Power Plant, with a capacity of 650 megawatts 
• Tripoli Emergency Power Plant, with a capacity of 1400 megawatts 

These projects have helped eliminate the crisis of power outages in Libya, as there are no longer any scheduled power outages, after citizens suffered outages of up to 12 hours a day. 

It also highlighted the creation of a main emergency room and sub-emergency rooms in all regions to deal with any emergency outages, emphasising its effective role in restoring power to the city of Derna just 72 hours after Hurricane Daniel. 

As for the medium-term plan, the ministry has focused on developing the power transmission network, implementing vital projects such as the repair of the main transmission lines (66 kV and 220 kV). 

Among the most noteworthy projects is the 220 kV Al-Qawarsha-Marawa power transmission line, which transports electricity from production plants in Benghazi to the cities and regions of Jabal al-Akhdar. 

As for the long-term plan, the ministry is looking to locate renewable energy projects, including a 3,000-megawatt solar energy project, with the aim of moving from dependence on fossil fuels to clean energy sources, taking advantage of Libya’s privileged geographical location. 

These achievements would not have been possible without the support of the Libyan government, headed by President Dr Osama Hamad, as well as the security and stability provided by the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.