The Electricity of Lebanon announced in a statement that it "had raised production capacity to cover the period of the parliamentary elections, consuming its fuel reserves at a faster rate during that period. Currently, the electricity generated from the production facilities of the Electricity of Lebanon relies solely on the quantities of fuel supplied to it by the Ministry of Energy and Water - General Directorate of Oil, pursuant to the swap agreement made between the Republic of Iraq and the Republic of Lebanon. The shipment supplied monthly of gas oil does not exceed a load of approximately //40,000// ± 10% metric tons at most, especially given the steady rise in the price of global crude oil."
The institution indicated that "to avoid falling into a complete blackout, additional precautionary measures were taken, which involved the forced shutdown of the Deir Ammar plant, which still has a reserve of //3,700// m³, until the entire remaining reserve of the Zahrani plant is consumed in the coming two days, after which the Deir Ammar plant will be brought back into service to extend the energy production period as minimally as about four additional days."
The statement concluded: "It is expected that on Friday, May 20, 2022, the oil tanker 'SEALION I', loaded with gas oil, will arrive in Lebanese territorial waters, heading directly to the Zahrani plant's outlet first to begin unloading the quantity allocated to it from its cargo, after the oversight companies commissioned by the General Directorate of Oil take samples from it and conduct laboratory tests at 'Bureau Veritas' - Dubai, to ensure compliance with specifications following receipt of the result, with the hope that the cargo of the concerned oil tanker will be unloaded and the gas oil reserves replenished before the evening of Monday, May 23, 2022, in continuation of securing the minimum power supply."
