Lebanon's electricity sector immersed with corruption, waste 

The electricity problem in Lebanon dates back to 1964, due to the lack of political will to find a solution to the issue. An expert in energy affairs believes that the reason is that the Electricité du Liban has exercised a monopoly over the years on electricity-related activities, meaning that no one can produce or sell electricity except the Electricité du Liban.

Lebanon's electricity sector immersed with corruption, waste 
22 July 2024   07:59
BERIUT
RANIA OBID

Lebanon has been suffering for many years from a severe electricity crisis, which is worsening day by day and greatly affecting all aspects of citizens’ daily lives. This crisis is not merely recurring power outages, but rather a complex problem rooted in overlapping political, economic, and administrative factors.

One of the most prominent problems affecting the electricity sector is the rampant corruption in state institutions and the intense political conflicts between the various Lebanese parties, which hinder the adoption of the necessary reforms.

The electricity problem in Lebanon is political, not technical or legal. Energy expert and lawyer Christina Abi Haidar spoke to ANHA's agency about the reality of electricity in Lebanon and explained that the problem dates back to the year 1964 due to the absence of political intentions to find a solution. The reason is that Electricité du Liban has exercised a monopoly over electricity activities over the years, meaning that no one else can produce electricity, which is then sold exclusively to Electricité du Liban.

Christina Abi Haidar explained that after the Lebanese war in 1975, the electricity sector significantly deteriorated with the destruction of oil facilities infrastructure. As a result, Lebanon resorted to relying on private electric generators. From 1990 to the present day, the owners of these generators have monopolized the electricity sector. She stated, they are political mafias who have personal interests in importing and selling diesel. As long as private generators exist, there is no political intention to operate the Lebanese electricity plants

Solutions to save the electricity sector are lacking due to political hegemony. Christina Abi Haidar believes that solutions to save the electricity sector are possible, but in the absence of political intent, the solutions will remain challenging. She adds: Electricity is the main engine of the economy, and with Lebanon entering a severe financial crisis since 2019, the issue has had repercussions in all sectors: tourism, industry, agriculture, and others. One of the causes of the crisis is the electricity sector. Lebanon has spent a lot of dollars on the electricity sector.

Christine Abi Haidar explained that the solution lies in implementing the reform plans imposed by the international community and in enforcing existing laws, but the lack of political willingness to implement them takes precedence. This means that the citizen will continue to bear the cost, as not all citizens can afford private generators. The majority of citizens are below the poverty line, so the electricity bill is very high, increasing the burden of living for the citizens.

T/ Satt.

ANHA