Tunisia and Libya will likely experience recurring summer electricity shortages over the next several years, causing slower economic growth and intermittent unrest in Tunisia and anti-government criticism and protests in Libya, though neither crisis is likely to produce major near-term political change. In late July, protesters in Tunisia and western Libya rallied against rolling blackouts and power cuts that disrupted business operations and left millions with limited access to air conditioning amid a heatwave. In Tunisia, the protests came after the state-owned Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (STEG) implemented a series of rolling power cuts due to a 33% year-on-year spike in electricity demand. Thousands of Tunisians protested throughout the country, including in Tunis, Zaghouan, Monastir and Sousse. Although most of the protests remained peaceful and mainly blocked roads, some protesters set tires on fire in Menzel Abderrahmane, a town roughly 65 kilometers (40 miles) from the capital, Tunis.