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ELECTRICITY CRISIS

Protests in Saida following arrests of generator owners, loss of power

Protests in Saida following arrests of generator owners, loss of power

Several residents of Saïda blocked Nejmeh Square as well as the center of the city, on July 14, 2022. (Credit: Mountasser Abdallah/OLJ)

BEIRUT –The arrest of a dozen generator owners in Saida Thursday and the consequent loss of power provoked the anger of some of the city's inhabitants, who blocked roads in Nejmeh Square as well as elsewhere in the center of the city.

Here’s what we know:

    • L’Orient-Le Jour correspondent Mountasser Abdallah reported that twelve generator owners were arrested for refusing to sign a document stating that they will respect the tariffs set by the Ministry of Energy.

    • Five were released after pledging to abide by the prices.

    • In a statement released Thursday, the association of owners of generators in Saida said they had presented a “two-pronged” initiative. They agreed to place generators under judicial custody, so that the municipality can operate them, and had proposed forming a technical committee made up of political party members, members of the municipality, and generator owners to set a price that can “satisfy everyone.”

    • “Unfortunately, the proposed solutions were rejected and generator owners were arrested,” the statement concluded.

    • Fuel prices fell sharply on Thursday morning. Fuel oil, used in particular to supply private generators and priced in dollars, sells for $1,104 per kiloliter, against $1,168 according to the latest pricing. 

BEIRUT –The arrest of a dozen generator owners in Saida Thursday and the consequent loss of power provoked the anger of some of the city's inhabitants, who blocked roads in Nejmeh Square as well as elsewhere in the center of the city. Here’s what we know:    • L’Orient-Le Jour correspondent Mountasser Abdallah reported that twelve generator owners were arrested for refusing to...