Lebanon in crisis, fuel shortages and power plants shut down

2021-07-10T08:54:01.602Z

Lebanon fights against the lack of water and electricity after the two main plants were shut down due to lack of fuel, plunging the country into an almost total blackout. Yet another sign of a nation increasingly screwed into an endless financial crisis. Electricite Du Liban (Edl) yesterday announced the shutdown of the Deir Ammar and Zahrani plants, which together provide about 40% of electricity. In the eastern city of Zahle, residents were asked to minimize consumption, stressing that "the country's energy supply has been cut off indefinitely." A similar request was made by the North Lebanon Water Company, which announced "a state of great emergency".The lack of foreign currency makes it difficult to pay for supplies: two tankers full of fuel have been waiting since last week in port but refuse to unload until they have been paid. Pharmacies also suffer from a shortage of medicines and are on strike.