Lebanon's Electricity Authority: Severe Drop in Fuel Oil Reserves

The following statement was issued by the Lebanon Electricity Authority: "Following the statement from the Lebanon Electricity Authority dated 27/07/2024, particularly concerning the precautionary measures taken by the authority regarding the halting of a production unit at the Zahrani plant to extend the operation of another unit there, and given that no shipment has been allocated to date under the exchange agreement established between the Republic of Iraq and the Republic of Lebanon to be exchanged by the Ministry of Energy and Water – the General Directorate of Oil, either for last July or for the current August until this date. Until the issue is resolved with the Iraqi side by the concerned parties, and in light of this situation which is completely beyond the control and responsibility of the Lebanon Electricity Authority, the authority informs that the Deir Ammar plant was forcibly taken out of service at dawn on Wednesday, 07/08/2024, due to the complete depletion of its fuel oil reserves. Only one unit remains operational at the Zahrani plant to supply essential facilities in Lebanon (airport, port, water pumps, sewage, prisons, etc.). It is anticipated that this remaining unit will also go out of service on Saturday, 17/08/2024, at the latest, due to the depletion of fuel oil at the Zahrani plant as well, provided that the authority can maintain the stability of the electrical grid. The authority will work again to restart the units that were forcibly taken out of service, after receiving and unloading shipments of fuel oil for its benefit, and then gradually restore the supply to its previous state. Accordingly, the Lebanon Electricity Authority will keep all citizens informed of any developments regarding electricity supply through subsequent statements."