Lebanon Threatened With Total Power Outage Due To Lack Of Fuel

Lebanon/ILLUSTRATION OF UNSPLASH/Sara Calado

JAKARTA - Lebanon could face a total power outage in the coming days as the country's fuel reserves run out, said King Ali, a former adviser to the country's Minister of Energy and Water Resources.

"It is possible that power outages occur every day. This is not the first time, because the Lebanese electricity grid is very fragile and high demand," Ali said as quoted by ANTARA from Sputnik, Saturday, August 17.

He explained that only two power plants in Lebanon Deir Ammar and Zahrani are now operating, providing up to 70 percent of the country's electricity.

Both plants use diesel fuel, but Lebanon has run out of reserves, he said.

Ali explained that in many areas, including some capitals, the electricity supplied by the government is limited to only two to three hours per day.

"Currently only the Zahrani power plant is functioning, meaning that tomorrow there may not be any electricity supplied by the state at all," said Ali.

He also reminded the Lebanese Ministry of Energy had reached an agreement with Iraq to supply the country with 1 million tonnes of crude oil annually. This crude oil is processed by third parties into diesel fuel for Lebanon.

However, the Lebanese Ministry of Energy has failed to pay Iraq for the crude, causing supply cuts.

Starting last December, Lebanese energy companies should start covering these costs.

As a temporary measure, Ali said the power plant might be supplied from army fuel reserves of around 5,000 tonnes or through the purchase of floating power plants.

However, it remains unclear how much of the country's total energy needs can be met, he continued.

Responding to the Israeli threat that would bomb the remaining power plants in Lebanon in the event of a large-scale military operation, Ali pointed out that this threat did not have as big an impact as seen, considering Lebanese citizens had relied on alternative energy sources for 18 to 22 hours a day, depending on their territory, for several years.

"Technical aspects are the easiest to resolve. Recovering 24-hour electricity supply will not take long if there is political will and decision-making. However, we face the high level of corruption in the Lebanese power structure," Ali said when asked about obstacles in overcoming the country's energy crisis.

The former adviser also urged Lebanese authorities to consider cooperation with Russia.

"Russia can provide significant assistance in this area. They have advanced energy technology and innovative projects. It all depends on the will and leadership decisions (Lebanon)," he explained.

The electricity crisis in Lebanon has not been resolved since the end of the civil war in the early 1990s. Before the economic crisis occurred in October 2019, the country's electricity had been distributed to residents in various cities and regions for 12 to 18 hours a day.

After the crisis began, the amount of supply fell to two to eight hours every day.

When the country runs out of fuel reserves, Lebanon can experience a total outage that lasts for several weeks. Under these conditions, diesel generators are an alternative source of energy, with the owners of the tool having long sought to lobby to hinder the completion of the energy crisis to protect their business interests.