Lebanon Left Without Electricity Due to Unpaid Debts

Electricity has been disconnected for ten hours across Lebanon. Two power plants ceased energy supply due to failure to pay debts in foreign currency. This information is reported by TASS.

Electricity has been cut off in the northern city of Deir Ammar and the southern city of Al Zahra. The operator of the power plant had warned of a power interruption due to unpaid foreign currency debts. The debt amounts to $83 million, of which the Lebanese state company 'Electricity du Liban' has only managed to pay $2 million to the operator of the 'Primesouth' power plant.

Reports indicate that the acting Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Selim Fayad, is making urgent efforts to address the situation.

A similar situation occurred at the beginning of January. Then, the authorities raised funds and paid off debts within a week to prevent Lebanon from plunging into complete darkness. The crisis has intensified due to a reduction in foreign currency reserves and the removal of public subsidies for fuel and lubricants, which has led to rising prices for gasoline and fuel oil.