Electric poles at the exit of the Jamhour electrical relay station in the Baabda district, Aug. 22, 2024. Photo P.H.B.
Electricité du Liban (EDL) is expected to resume producing more electricity following a week of operating at minimal levels due to insufficient fuel.
According to the press office of the EDL, the Chem Helen, a tanker carrying 30,000 tons of Egyptian diesel purchased by the Lebanese state as part of a "one-time deal," was traveling through the southern coast of Lebanon on the Marine Traffic ship tracking site, and will dock on Monday evening at around 10 p.m.
The cargo will be divided between the Deir Ammar (northern Lebanon) and Zahrani (southern Lebanon) power plants, allowing EDL to generate about 350 to 400 megawatts (MW) at these two sites. The provider, which also generates approximately 70 MW from its hydroelectric capabilities, will be able to supply between 3 and 4 hours of electricity per day to subscribers while also powering vital infrastructure (port, airport, water offices, etc.), compared to only one hour of sporadic power in recent days. Fuel unloading will begin once necessary tests are conducted by Bureau Veritas of Dubai, a standard procedure.
Algerian and Iraqi Fuel
According to caretaker Energy and Water Minister Walid Fayad, who hoped the ship would arrive in the afternoon, a sample has already been taken and sent to Dubai from Egypt. Another sample will also be sent from Lebanon. The minister also told L’Orient-Le Jour that he had ensured that the oil facilities transfer an additional 2,000 kiloliters of fuel, in addition to the 5,000 already provided, to help EDL manage any delays in the process.
However, EDL's office was unable to provide additional information about the Algerian fuel cargo. Fayad announced Friday that the tanker In Ecker, chartered by Algeria, was expected in Beirut on Monday. According to Vesselfinder, it was located southwest of the Cypriot coast around 7 p.m. The tanker is carrying an initial cargo of 30,000 tons of fuel, which Algeria decided to send to Lebanon as a donation on Sunday. Additional shipments are expected, but the total amount of fuel to be sent has not yet been disclosed.
The ministry has launched inspection and cleaning operations for Lebanese facilities — tanks, pipelines, etc. — to ensure they can receive the fuel oil without compromising its quality. It notes that the fuel oil facilities have been unused since the defective fuel issue with EDL, which led to the termination of the fuel supply contract with the Algerian company Sonatrach. This issue has yet to be adjudicated.
EDL also clarified that the next fuel shipment under the ongoing swap agreement between Lebanon and Iraq since summer 2021 is expected to arrive between Sept. 7 and 8.
EDL’s financial problems, which have impacted its production and supply for many years, worsened with the onset of the economic crisis that began in 2019. Various measures implemented over the past three years have somewhat improved the situation in recent months before the near-blackout the supplier has faced since late July. Following this, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati requested that the Central Inspection (IC) and the Court of Cassation investigate the circumstances leading to the near-total interruption of electricity production, despite EDL’s warnings since early July that such a scenario might occur.
