Lebanese media reported that electricity will be cut off starting from this afternoon, Wednesday, after the operator of the Deir Ammar and Zahrani plants, "Prime South," decided to hand them over to the Electricité du Liban (EDL). This means that electricity supply in Lebanon will cease. The company made this decision after its dues from EDL accumulated to $83 million, of which it received only about $2 million, stating that it cannot continue operating under these conditions. Following a cabinet meeting today, Finance Minister Youssef Khalil commented on the company's decision, noting that the solution to the electricity crisis could come from collected revenues or from Special Drawing Rights (SDR).
A statement later issued by Electricité du Liban confirmed the cessation of operations at the Deir Ammar and Zahrani plants due to the failure to pay the operator "Prime South" in foreign currency. Consequently, the latter decided to stop work at the two plants and has begun the necessary procedures for this. Electricité du Liban indicated that this situation could lead to a complete shutdown of the production capacity and a total disconnection of the electrical network, resulting in a total lack of electricity supply for subscribers.
In reliance on diesel generators, the blackout threatens the administrative capital, Beirut, and the international airport if the situation remains unchanged. The Minister of Public Works in the caretaker government, Ali Hamieh, issued a call after the electricity supply was halted, stating, "Those concerned must understand that the airport and the Port of Beirut are red lines and should be supplied with electricity under any circumstances." He emphasized that "the alternative plan we adopted this evening, which relies on generators, is an emergency plan and not a sustainable solution."
