The Shadow of the Electricity Crisis Looms Again, Drenching Lebanon in Darkness

Electricity was completely and fully cut off from all Lebanese regions after Lebanon's Electricité du Liban announced yesterday afternoon, Saturday, the "complete forced shutdown of the last operational production group at the Zahrani power plant due to the complete depletion of the plant's reserves of gas oil, resulting in a total shutdown of electricity supply across all Lebanese territory, including essential facilities in Lebanon." Fadi Al-Hassan, the general director of civil aviation at Beirut Airport, confirmed that Rafic Hariri International Airport, the only civilian airport in the country, "is currently securing electricity from generators," expressing hope that the crisis does not last long. The causes of the crisis stem from declining levels of red diesel fuel in power stations, due to the non-delivery of any shipment under the Iraqi exchange agreement during the month of June. Negotiations previously held with Jordan and Iraq to supply Lebanon with fuel and electricity have yet to yield results that contribute to resolving the crisis, leading us to a "complete blackout."