The worsening economic and security conditions in the Libyan capital have pushed many people to resort to stealing cables from power poles.
Sometimes individuals are stealing thousands of kilometers of high voltage cables which is leading to power outages for a long period.
Hardly a day goes by in Tripoli without the General Electricity Company announcing the theft of hundreds or thousands of meters of high voltage cables.
Director of the Information Department of the General Electricity Company of Libya Mohamed Al-Takouri said that the sector "has been suffering from large-scale theft operations over the past years in all Libyan cities, and it is putting the company under great financial pressure."
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Takouri said that thieves are taking advantage of power-rationing periods to take over high voltage cables, noting that thefts have exceeded 9,500 meters in the past months.
Al-Takwari said almost 400 power police members are failing to take control over this issue in Libya.
The Electricity Company previously said the stolen electrical wires and equipment in the last five years are worth 1.285 million dinars, calling on the concerned authorities to intervene.
