- An Algerian tanker has arrived at Tripoli Port with 30,000 tons of fuel to help Lebanon restart its power plants after a ten-day shutdown.
- The fuel shipment, part of Algeria’s aid, aims to restore electricity and alleviate the severe power outage affecting essential services in Lebanon.
An Algerian tanker carrying 30,000 tons of fuel arrived at Tripoli Port in northern Lebanon on August 27, 2024. This marked the first delivery of aid from Algeria aimed at restarting Lebanon’s power plants, which have been inoperative for approximately ten days.
This shipment is critical to Algeria’s support in helping Lebanon recover from a severe electricity crisis. Lebanon’s current electricity supply relies heavily on private generators due to the recent shutdown of its state-owned power plants.
The arrival of the fuel shipment, announced by Sonatrach, Algeria’s state oil company, is part of a directive from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to assist Lebanon during its energy crisis. The fuel-laden ship departed from Skikda oil port on August 22, 2024, and is preparing to offload at Tripoli Port.
The crisis began on August 17, 2024, when Electricité du Liban (EDL), the state-owned electricity company, reported a nationwide power outage following a complete shutdown of all power stations. The following day, Algeria pledged to send fuel immediately to mitigate the impact of the electricity outage on Lebanon’s essential services.
The power outage has severely affected critical infrastructure, including Rafic Hariri International Airport, Beirut Port, prisons, wastewater treatment plants, and drinking water pumping stations. The energy crisis has deepened Lebanon’s existing difficulties, exacerbated by a financial crisis that has left the country struggling to secure foreign currency for fuel imports.
Previously, Lebanon’s electricity production ranged between 1,600 and 2,000 megawatts daily. However, due to persistent fuel shortages and the ongoing financial crisis, production has plummeted to unprecedentedly low levels in recent years.
This drastic reduction has led to frequent power outages, compounding the hardships faced by Lebanese citizens and businesses. Sonatrach’s fuel shipment is expected to be crucial in revitalising Lebanon’s power plants and restoring a more stable electricity supply.
This humanitarian gesture from Algeria underscores the country’s commitment to supporting Lebanon through its current energy crisis, offering hope for improving the country’s dire energy situation.