Several Ogero centers have raised red flags after they became dangerously low on diesel fuel.
And the fact that the company currently stands unable to secure the necessary supply, which it uses for its electric generators and keep services running, means its centers are threatened with shutting down soon.
Because the electric current in Lebanon is how it is, Ogero utilizes its own electric diesel-powered generators to compensate for the regular power cuts.
But recently, its diesel suppliers have stopped providing it with the necessary fuel due to “the pile of unpaid bills,” a source told Al-Akhbar.
And as such, on Thursday this week, Lebanon’s main telecommunications company began receiving alerts from several of its centers across the country that their generators might go dry soon.
Reportedly, there’s an urgent need for the company to pay 820 million Lebanese pounds to the dealers to avoid an imminent disaster.
But even regardless of whether or not Ogero has the required cash, it is legally prohibited from conducting any transactions at this moment.
This is because, on January 28th, the Financial Public Prosecution issued a judicial decision that forbade “the disbursement of any sums” by the company, until the ongoing issues related to Ogero’s bumpy contract with the Ministry of Telecommunications are resolved.
As a result of this decision, not only has Ogero grown incapable of buying the diesel fuel it needs but anything at all. It can no longer systematically purchase the products and equipment it needs for its maintenance and other services to remain active and effective.
Nevertheless, fuel currently represents the most urgent problem that the company needs to resolve rapidly. That’s because the telecom company’s generators require refueling almost weekly, as per Al-Akhbar.
Hence, several Ogero centers with a low supply of diesel fuel are currently on the verge of shutting down in as soon as 10 days.
In other words, many Lebanese areas might lose their telecom services in less than 2 weeks if the situation remains unchanged. And to change the situation, the contract between the Telecommunications Ministry and Ogero must be signed.
As for signing this contract, it will take considerable time due to complications that date back to 2017. Simply put, Ogero seems to be in deep trouble, and so, in turn, does the Lebanese telecommunications sector.
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