The electricity situation in Lebanon right now is worse than ever anticipated. It seems that day after day Lebanon becomes more and more restless.
Based on the Electricity Minister’s promise things should have returned to “normal” already.
Yet, cities and towns across Lebanon are experiencing blackouts more often and for longer hours. Notably, some parts of Beirut had less than one hour of electricity on Tuesday.
There are even complaints from Zahlé that has been long known to have no blackouts at all.
Zahlé, the land of 24/7 electricity… or not?
24-hour electricity in Lebanon is a dream, more of a utopia. But Zahlé was able to do it, providing 24/7 electricity to at least 15 other municipalities.
However, the Lebanese “land of 24-hour electricity” is starting to feel the pain of cities across Lebanon, most of which have been plunged into darkness due to fuel shortages.
“Électricité de Zahlé has been turning off the electricity lately more than often and today three times. So nope just don’t say 24/7 anymore,” tweeted a resident of the town.
Électricité de Zahlé have been turning off the electricity lately more than often and today three times. So nope just don’t say 24/7 anymore 🙂
— BadéHéjir (@dontbeshadyy) July 27, 2020
Blackouts everywhere
According to NNA, there was a malfunction at the Jiyyeh power plant, which caused a chain reaction affecting all chains across the grid.
It caused the power supply in all regions across Lebanon to fail, leaving people to depend on their backup generators.
In a statement, Electricité du Liban blamed the fuel shortage for “causing the electrical network to be unstable” and said that this could happen again.
Meanwhile, generator owners have threatened to shut off their engines by August 5th to put pressure on the government to respond to their demands.
Some private generator owners have already begun their strike in some parts of Lebanon. According to The National, some went on a one-hour strike on Tuesday, only making citizens suffer a bit more than usual.
Others did not start their strike at the request of Major General Abbas Ibrahim, director-general of the General Directorate of General Security.
thank u to the mafia of private generator owners for going on strike ahead of schedule as the country goes on lockdown again. thank u to the failed state of Lebanon for being unable to provide even a min of electricity today in some parts.
Ring, from the Khandaq side, shut down. pic.twitter.com/6uvRxM6L0B— Lara Bitar (@LaraJBitar) July 28, 2020
Needless to say that if the government would work on providing decent 24-hour electricity, they wouldn’t be pressured by generator owners. Instead, the people are left with absolutely no power (in all ways and means).
The only power they still feel having is protesting, which they just did in the streets at the power cuts.
People in Lebanon will be stuck in their homes for two weeks once the strict lockdown is enforced Thursday… with no electricity: no AC, no fans, no TVs, no charging phones and computers…
Practically, it’s propelling them to the “dark ages” …without needing a time machine.
And yet again, the past of Lebanon was brighter than it is today.
