Reports have circulated about the closure of the National Social Security Fund office in Beirut and the central offices throughout this week due to the exhaustion of diesel fuel and the inability to purchase it for operating the backup generators that supply electricity to the buildings. It is noteworthy that some other administrative institutions are also experiencing difficulties in securing diesel. So, is there a shortage of this material in the markets?
Fadi Abu Shakra, a representative of fuel distributors, denies the existence of any diesel shortage in the markets. He confirms, in a conversation with MTV, that "diesel is secured from the importing companies, but some government departments, such as the Social Security and Vehicle Registration Authority, are unable to secure it to operate the generators and meet their daily needs, because the material is now delivered in 'fresh dollars.' Here lies the problem, as these institutions operate in Lebanese pounds."
