Lebanon teeters on the edge of another nationwide blackout as Electricité du Liban (EDL) power plants cease operations. This development has shattered Energy Minister pledge to boost electricity supply from 450 to 600 megawatts this summer. The Deir Ammar, Zahrani, and Litani power plants risk to all shut down, plunging the nation into deeper crisis.

LIMS has highlighted that such service breakdowns are not unprecedented. They are often leveraged by the Ministry of Energy and Water to pressure the state for additional funding, a practice that has significantly contributed to Lebanon’s financial collapse and energy crisis. The Ministry had committed to collecting adequate resources from electricity bills when prices were increased in 2022. Therefore, revenues from the raised prices should suffice for maintenance, spare parts, and fuel procurement, facilitating swift problem resolution. There is no justifiable reason for further demands on taxpayer money. LIMS asserts that the core issue lies in the Ministry’s lack of commitment to reducing electricity losses. These losses stem from billing delays, unpaid bills, and theft. Without addressing these problems, EDL will continue to drain taxpayer resources.

To mitigate the risk of total blackout, LIMS advocates for a transition towards distributed solar energy production through municipal and private sector cooperation. Under the PRISM program, LIMS underscored the advantages of decentralized solar farms to provide cheaper, more reliable electricity, ensuring longer electricity hours than those offered by EDL. LIMS proposes a model similar to that used in Toula, which integrates solar farms with existing generators. This approach reduces pollution, lowers costs, and guarantees a continuous electricity supply. Legislative action to streamline this model could facilitate the private sector involvement in electricity at the municipal level, addressing Lebanon’s electricity crisis and environmental challenges and allowing local economic development. By adopting these reforms, Lebanon could move towards a more sustainable and resilient energy future, mitigating the chronic risk of blackouts and fostering economic stability.

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