Lebanon suffers from power outages… and electricity is only from generators
Lebanon plunged into total darkness, Wednesday evening, after it was announced that the operations of the Deir Ammar factory in the north of the country and Zahrani in the south were suspended by the operating company, “Prime South”, due to a lack of liquidity financial.
The social media platforms have been abuzz with the objections of the suffering citizens, amid the heat wave that has hit the region in general.Lebanon Including, especially patients who need electrical appliances.
It also stopped providing Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut with electricity, on Wednesday evening, and is now working on its own generator until it runs out of diesel, according to private sources who spoke to “Sky News Arabia”.
Similarly, drinking water pumping stations in most Lebanese regions have stopped.
Statement by the Minister of Works in the interim government, Ali Hamiyah, to the local media, after the power outage:
- “The plan B that we adopted on Wednesday night is based on the usage generatorIt is an emergency plan, not a permanent solution.
- “Those concerned must realize that the airport and the port of Beirut are red lines, and electricity must be provided immediately, under any circumstances.”
The cause of the crisis
- Electricité du Liban published a statement justifying the suspension of the Deir Ammar and Zahrani plants to generate energy, noting that they are given to public institutions, especially the airport and official bodies.
- The institution has already asked Bank du Liban to transfer an amount of 10 million dollars to the account of the operating company, Prime South, under the contract for the operation and maintenance of the two plants, according to the mechanism established by the bank, but This amount has not been paid to the operating company so far.
- Friday, he reported Lebanon Electricity Corporation A letter from Prime South with a warning to arrest the two laboratories and hand them over to the institution. The company extended this warning until Wednesday, when the two laboratories mentioned above were finally stopped.
- Electricité du Liban added: “Bank du Liban has not transferred from the Corporation’s account to the Corporation’s account to date, the amount has not been transferred in US dollars, even in part, which prevents the possibility of paying some obligations in foreign currency, and so a negative effect on the safety of the investment and the proper functioning of the facility.”
- And he continued: “In light of this deteriorating situation, the Electricity Corporation of Lebanon announced that this situation would lead to the interruption of the production capacity of the operating company, and thus the complete disconnection of the electricity network as a result of the shortage. Supply electricity for the subscribers, including the basic facilities in the country, without the efforts of the corporation to reach.” Intensive efforts have been exerted by me, especially during the past two weeks with various stakeholders, to prevent this.
- It is important to note that Deir Ammar and Al-Zahrani are the only two thermal plants that are currently connected to the national electricity network in Lebanon, in light of the exceptional difficult circumstances that exist in the country, because they believe that the limits of 550 megawatts in. electrical energy.
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“Lahab” weather
This crisis is associated with heat wave High levels hit the region and Lebanon, and the humidity in Beirut reached 92 percent.
Statement by meteorologist Eli Khneisser in “Sky News Arabia”:
- “It’s going to be very hot from Thursday afternoon.”
- “There is a big heat wave that will hit Lebanon and Syria from the sea, accompanied by a high humidity of 92 percent.”
- “The storm has suffocated the coast and the mountains, but in the interior of the Bekaa Valley, high temperatures remain unchanged, between 38 and 42 degrees Celsius.”
Imminent health hazard
Commenting on the seriousness of power outages and rations in generator hours, the director of the Lebanese Jeitawi Hospital, cardiologist Naji Abi Rashed, told Sky News Arabia:
- “In the absence of refrigeration, many people will suffer heart problems.”
- “A large segment of patients, the elderly, people with special needs, and even children, and people dependent on artificial respirators, are affected by this.”
- “Skin rashes and redness may appear in some, and it is better to provide cooling for these groups.”
- “I invite patients to take care of their medications and put them in ice cream when needed.”
- “I appeal to the concerned people to secure electricity before health disaster hits the country.”
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