By Bisola Adeyemo
Lebanon’s state electricity company, Electricite du Liban (EDL), has warned that electricity shortages could plunge the country into total darkness by the end of September.
He company said on Thursday in a statement that it risked a total blackout across the country by end-September as its fuel oil reserves dwindle.
According to the statement, Reuters news agency reported that for the past few weeks, Lebanese relying on private generators for power.
The statement also said that the Electricite du Liban (EDL) company can generate less than 500 megawatts from fuel oil it secured through a deal with Iraq.
The statement also read further that EDL’s reserves of both Grade A and Grade B fuel oil had reached a critical point and had run out already for some plants that have now stopped production.
“The network already experienced total blackouts across the country seven times and if this continues there is a high risk of reaching total and complete blackout by end September,” the statement said.
Iraq signed an agreement in July allowing the cash-strapped Lebanese government to pay for 1 million tonnes of heavy fuel oil a year in goods and services.
The heavy fuel oil is not suitable for use in Lebanon, but it is exchanged in tenders for a suitable grade.
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