Egypt has resumed electricity exports to Libya with an initial capacity of 70 megawatts, following the collapse of the Libyan power grid two days ago. This comes after the Libyan government paid approximately $100 million this week towards outstanding payments for Egyptian electricity imports dating back to 2023, according to a government official who spoke to Asharq Bloomberg on condition of anonymity.

The official added that the two sides have agreed on a payment schedule for the remaining $41 million, out of a total debt of $141 million, to be paid before the end of 2026. This agreement ensures the continued flow of electricity and the possibility of gradually increasing export volumes.

The resumption of exports came hours after Libya's power grid suffered a widespread collapse, with several power plants and main transmission lines going offline. This resulted in a loss of approximately 1,350 megawatts of generating capacity and blackouts across most of the country.

Libya is utilizing the electricity interconnection line with Egypt during the grid's restoration efforts. According to Rabie Khalifa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Electricity, Libya has relied on this interconnection line to provide the necessary power to restart the grid.