The black market for fuel has expanded significantly in Lebanon. (Credit: João Sousa/L’Orient Today)
BEIRUT — Lebanon’s top prosecutor, Ghassan Oueidat, ordered new measures to crack down on those hoarding and smuggling fuel, following a meeting with top officials at the Grand Serail on Thursday.
Here’s what we know:
• Businesses found to be hoarding fuel in unlicensed storage areas or selling fuel above the official rate are to be shuttered indefinitely.
• Confiscated gasoline is to be sold to the public by the judicial police, at the official price, with a limit of 20 liters per person.
• Confiscated diesel is to be sold to hospitals and private generator owners in the presence of a municipal employee from the town where it was seized, unless it is more than 50,000 liters, in which case it will be given to the state Directorate of Oil.
• The new measures come as Lebanon faces severe fuel shortages due to its 2-year-old financial crisis, and political and bureaucratic failures to find solutions.
• The trade in black market fuel has grown significantly as gasoline and diesel shortages at the official, subsidized prices leave motorists and generator operators without fuel.