Iraq to double oil shipments to Lebanon

“We are all beggars”, graffiti in the streets of Beirut (illustration image).

AP - Hussein Malla

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

Iraq has agreed to renew for one year the agreement to deliver hydrocarbons to Lebanon, announced the press service of Lebanese Prime Minister Nagib Mikati.

Iraqi fuel is the only source to power Lebanese power plants, which provides a few short hours of power per day.

The agreement was renegotiated by the Director of General Security, Abbas Ibrahim, and the Iraqi Prime Minister.

The two men have been friends since the time when Moustapha Kazimi headed the Iraqi intelligence services. 

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With our correspondent in Beirut,

The announcement of the renewal of the barter agreement under which Iraq supplies fuel to Lebanon comes two weeks before the total

announced by the Lebanese authorities for August 25.

Iraq undertakes to provide Lebanon for one year with one million tons of fuel paid for in Lebanese pounds, medical services and agricultural products.

A production of 250 megawatts

The Iraqi fuel is then exchanged on the world market for fuel compatible with the Lebanese power plants in accordance with a call for tenders.

Without the Iraqi fuel supplied since last September, Lebanon would be plunged into a total

.

This unique source of fuel can produce 250 megawatts, or 10% of the country's needs, enough to provide only one to two hours of electricity per day.   

The rest comes from private generators whose high costs are no longer within the reach of a good part of the population.

A plan to deliver Egyptian gas and electricity from Jordan

Syria, announced a year ago by the US ambassador to Lebanon, to counter Iran's delivery of free heating oil, is not still not entered into force.

It comes up against political obstacles linked to the sanctions imposed on Syria, and administrative obstacles relating to the financing conditions set by the World Bank.  

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• Lebanon

• Iraq

• Oil

• Energies

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