Following a protest in West Bekaa against repeated power outages in the region, the National Litani Authority announced Friday that a meeting will soon be organized with officials from Électricité du Liban (EDL) and the Energy and Water Minister, Joe Saddi, who does not oppose EDL taking initiatives to alleviate the suffering of citizens.

In the absence of viable alternatives in these areas, Saddi indicated he does not interfere in the rationing programs and would not oppose EDL implementing measures to ease citizens' difficulties, according to a statement from the National Litani Authority sent to our correspondent in the Bekaa.

The text discusses a context marked by the decrease in production from hydroelectric plants due to the water shortage. Exacerbating the electricity rationing crisis in the western Bekaa regions, Jezzine, and surrounding areas, now relying solely on the public supplier's thermal power plants. The director of National Litani Authority, Sami Alawieh, contacted Saddi to discuss ways to mitigate the repercussions of this crisis. Both parties agreed to organize a meeting with EDL officials to define a practical framework to implement a temporary solution to mitigate the severe electricity rationing consequences.

Thursday evening, a protest was organized in front of an EDL center in Machghara, one of the main localities in West Bekaa, to protest against the power cuts to ensure the restoration of electricity supply as before, according to the state-run National News Agency.

In Lebanon, the electricity supply is marked by frequent outages and chronic shortages due to outdated infrastructure and inefficient sector management. Faced with these shortages, many Lebanese resort to private generators.