Siemens will provide F-class turbines. Source: Siemens

Siemens signed contracts with Libya's state-owned utility General Electricity Company to build a 650 megawatt (MW) open cycle power plant in Misrata, equipped with two F-class gas turbines, and a 690 MW open cycle power plant in Tripoli West, equipped with four E class gas turbines.

The engineering, procurement and construction contracts, including long-term service agreements, are worth around 700 million euros ($825 million).

Siemens says it has been supporting Libya with technology since the 1950s. It says around 30 percent of Libya’s installed power generation capacity is based on Siemens technology.

After completion, the power plants in Misrata and Tripoli West will help the country ease frequent and unpredictable power cuts.

According to estimates from the International Energy Agency, 99 percent of Libyans living in rural areas and all Libyans living in urban areas had access to electricity, one of the highest electrification rates among African countries. Even so, the country suffers from power outages, including operators of oil and natural gas fields. Power shortfalls have affected production at some of Libya’s largest oil fields, including fields operated by Agoco and Mellitah.