Lebanon's power predicament deepens as final energy facility closes down.
In Lebanon, the final operational power plant has temporarily halted operations due to a fuel shortage. According to Electricité du Liban (EDL), the state-owned power company, the plant was forced to shut down due to the exhaustion of all oil reserves, resulting in a nationwide power outage throughout the nation.
This affected crucial facilities such as the airport, port in Beirut, water pumps, sewage systems, and prisons, as reported. Once a reliable fuel source is secured, the plant will be brought back online.
The Lebanese government has been unable to ensure reliable electricity for the country for decades. Large portions of the population rely on diesel generators to compensate for frequent power failures. The electricity crisis has worsened since the major economic crisis begun in 2019. The country's power supply has become inconsistent at best, sometimes only available for a couple of hours per day. EDL power plants frequently run out of fuel due to the ongoing crisis.
The crisis is largely attributed to decades of political and economic corruption. The country is rapidly running out of foreign currency. As per the United Nations, over three-quarters of Lebanon's population, exceeding six million people, live in poverty.
The ongoing energy crisis in Lebanon has led to a significant strain on crucial facilities, such as the airport and hospitals, as backup power sources often fail to function adequately. The prolonged halt of the final operational power plant, due to the energy crisis, has exacerbated the nationwide power outages, making the situation even more dire.
