The Minister of Energy, Joe Saddi, visits the premises of Électricité du Liban on Friday, April 11, 2025. (Credit: photo taken from his X account.)
BEIRUT — Energy Minister Joe Saddi met with President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Wednesday, a day after announcing that he would suspend his participation in Cabinet sessions over the government's handling of the electricity sector, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA) and Saddi's X account.
On Tuesday, Saddi had announced that he would stop attending Cabinet sessions until the government addressed his demands over the electricity sector, including increasing power supply, reducing the burden of fuel costs and settling unpaid bills owed to Electricité du Liban (EDL).
Saddi said on X after meeting Aoun that he had briefed the president on the reasons behind his decision and "confirmed his continued assumption of his ministerial responsibilities," while expressing hope that the issues prompting his decision would be addressed.
During his meeting with Salam, the "two discussed ways to increase electricity supply to citizens, particularly practical steps to gradually increase power supply hours over the coming weeks and months," according to NNA.
"The discussions on the electricity file will continue at a dedicated meeting on Friday," NNA reported. The two also agreed on "proposed projects to address the electricity crisis sustainably over the medium term."
His decision came after the Cabinet approved the 2027 draft budget last Thursday, prompting objections from the Lebanese Forces over what the party said was insufficient attention to the electricity sector. Saddi has called for measures including introducing a variable electricity tariff, paying outstanding bills owed to EDL by state institutions, removing the LL 300,000 fuel tax and having the state cover electricity costs for exemptions granted to some areas. He said the move was not an abandonment of his ministerial responsibilities, but a way to pressure the government to address the sector’s problems, adding that he would continue carrying out his ministerial duties.
Lebanon’s severe electricity crisis stems from decades of structural mismanagement and corruption at state utility EDL. The situation worsened drastically after the 2019 financial collapse, which left the government without the foreign currency needed to purchase fuel.