An Algerian tanker carrying 30,000 tons of fuel is scheduled to depart for Lebanon on Wednesday, marking the first shipment of emergency aid to help restart the country’s struggling power plants.
The Algerian state-owned company Sonatrach announced the departure of the Ain Aker tanker, following instructions from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to provide Lebanon with the necessary fuel to restore electricity.
The move comes in response to a nationwide power outage in Lebanon on Saturday, caused by the complete shutdown of all power stations due to fuel shortages.
The outage has had a significant impact on essential facilities, including the country’s international airport, port, prisons, wastewater treatment plants, and drinking water pumping stations.
Lebanon has been grappling with a severe power crisis for the past two years, exacerbated by a financial crisis that has limited its ability to import fuel.
The country’s electricity production has plummeted from a daily average of 1,600-2,000 megawatts to unprecedentedly low levels.
Algeria’s fuel aid is expected to provide some relief to Lebanon, which has been struggling to recover from a series of crises in recent years.