Somaliland to face five-hour blackouts starting August 1

On June 24, 2022, Somaliland Chronicle reported that the Somaliland Electricity Association had informed the public of a planned five-hour electricity blackout, starting August 1, 2022. The blackout was scheduled nightly from 11 PM to 4 AM.

According to the report, the association stated that rising fuel costs and an attempt to conserve fuel reserves were the reasons for the blackout. The association also said its members had agreed to a ten-cent hike per unit, instead of the 85 cents per unit that customers were billed without warning, according to Somaliland Chronicle.

The report adds that the association had previously stated its fuel reserves were running short and it might be unable to supply customers. It does not say when that previous statement was made.

The Somaliland Chronicle article does not establish that the five-hour blackout actually took place after August 1, 2022. It reports the association's announcement and its stated reasons, but no independent verification of fuel shortages or billing practices is provided.

The article mentions that letters from the Ministry of Interior and the Energy Commission did little to sway the association, and that the Somaliland Parliament declared the Energy Commission's halt unlawful on June 19, 2022. However, the report does not describe the consequences or whether the halt was enforced.