Lebanon: government to halt diesel supplies as fuel crisis worsens

The Ministry of Energy and Water in Lebanon is to stop delivering diesel amid a fuel crisis in the country. Diesel has run out in government facilities, with the exception of limited quantities for emergencies and the needs of the security forces.

Out of respect for the Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Adha, however, oil facilities in Tripoli and Zahrani supplied the local market with diesel. Supplies have also been secured for hospitals, bakeries, private generators and all public institutions.

Diesel is used in Lebanon to generate electricity using small, private generators due to the frequent and lengthy power cuts. Moreover, the country’s shortage of foreign currency reserves has made it increasingly difficult to import diesel.

Lebanon has suffered from a severe fuel shortage for over two months, which has resulted in power cuts for up to 20 hours per day. A broader economic crisis has persisted for more than a year and half, causing the local currency to crash against the dollar. That in turn has created the shortage of foreign currency reserves.

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