EDL logo. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — The state-owned Électricité du Liban (EDL) announced plans Wednesday to increase its electricity supply to four hours per day, beginning Friday.
EDL stated it will increase its output to 450 megawatts, which will increase its electricity supply to four hours per day, a part of an amended emergency electricity plan.
EDL also said it will proceed with issuing bills in accordance with the new tariffs "by the end of the week." In November 2022, EDL started increasing its tariffs for the first time since the 1990s.
The emergency plan was implemented after Banque du Liban (BDL) financed two shipments of fuel that spent weeks anchored off Lebanese shores while awaiting payment.
The plan includes key performance indicators intended to limit violations and bill collections. Depending on the proper implementation of this plan, EDL can move on to subsequent production phases.
"Moving to the [next] stage will be evaluated depending on the implementation ... During stage three, production will be increased to around 585 megawatts, which is approximately 5 hours of supply per day in all areas of Lebanon," EDL added in its statement.
For decades, Lebanon has suffered from violations of its electricity stations and cables, enabling some to siphon electricity without paying for it.
EDL asked, "all citizens to respond to the plan put in place and refrain from trying to illegally get electricity from the networks."
Lebanon has received very little electricity from EDL since the beginning of the economic crisis that began in 2019. The country is heavily reliant on private generators, which are expensive and not accessible to everyone.