EDL announces gradual restoration of production after successful tests on received fuel

BEIRUT — Electricité du Liban (EDL) announced in a statement on Sunday that power generation will return to its usual level at the beginning of the week, following several days during which its teams had rationed distribution due to a delay in the delivery of a shipment of fuel intended for its main power plants in Deir Ammar (North Lebanon) and Zahrani (South Lebanon).

"The laboratory analysis results from Bureau Veritas in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, were received this morning, and it was confirmed that these results meet the contractual specifications required by the control company mandated by the Ministry of Energy and Water for the samples taken from the fuel oil cargo," the statement said.

The portion of this fuel intended for the production units operated by Electricité de Zahleh was unloaded Sunday morning. This former concession, transformed into a company, has been authorized for several years to produce and distribute electricity in the region through its own generator fleet.

The rest of the cargo will then be transferred to the tanks in Deir Ammar, and the vessel is subsequently expected to head to Zahrani to supply the second power plant.

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Following a fuel delivery delay, EDL to reduce its output

EDL had announced on Thursday that it had been forced to reduce power production and distribution since the previous day, due to the delayed arrival of a tanker carrying fuel for its power plants, which was originally expected between Dec. 5 and 8. The ship finally arrived at its destination over the weekend.

In the meantime, EDL reduced supply hours, which dropped from an average of 7 hours a day to just 2 hours, according to two sources contacted this week.

Even at full capacity, EDL is unable to supply electricity to the entire country 24/7, and its subscribers have had to rely, since the civil war of 1975-1990, on private generators that authorities have sought to regulate in recent years.