Algeria steps in to avert nation-wide blackouts in Lebanon as citizens fume over latest crisis

Lack of fuel caused state electricity provider to suspend service

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As if the looming all-out war with Israel and the lingering economic catastrophe weren’t enough to trouble the government of Lebanon, during the past several days, it has been forced to scramble to avert looming country-wide blackouts.

Last Saturday, the Lebanese state-run electricity company (EDL) announced that it would no longer be able to supply electricity after its last operational power plant runs out of fuel.

The situation would affect “essential facilities such as the airport, port, water pumps, sewage systems, and prisons,” according to EDL. This would also result “in a total power cut” of state electricity across Lebanon.

Due to the economic crisis, electricity supplied by the state has only been available for a maximum of about four hours per day.

On Sunday, following failed attempts to convince the Iraqi government to supply Lebanon with the much-needed fuel, Algeria announced it would begin oil deliveries.

“Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui had a telephone conversation today with the Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, to inform him of the decision taken by President Tebboune to support Lebanon in these difficult circumstances by immediately providing quantities of fuel oil to operate the power plants and restore electricity to the country,” the Algerian Prime Minister announced.

An agreement with Iraq failed due to the financial crisis, despite Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati's visit to Baghdad at the head of a delegation of ministers on Sunday.

The latest crisis comes amid growing concerns about a possible escalation in the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, leading to widespread anger among Lebanese citizens on social media.

The energy crisis was widely attributed to the government, but also to Hezbollah and its patron – the Iranian regime.

The Saudi network Al Arabiya carried a report titled: “They robbed money and armed themselves – Lebanese criticize Hezbollah after power outage.”

Lebanese citizens, including report author Kinda Al-Khatib, have highlighted Hezbollah’s longstanding control of the Energy Ministry since 2005 as a key factor in the crisis.

In 2021, Israel's Alma Research Center detailed how the Lebanese Yamin brothers used their company LIQUIGROUP to advance Hezbollah’s interests in the energy market. This included smuggling fuel to Syria and using shell companies to evade U.S. sanctions on Hezbollah-affiliated companies.

In May 2020, some of these entities were accused of exploiting the local populace by laundering money and establishing a cartel-like structure with the tacit approval of several powerless Lebanese governments.