Lebanon to Plunge in Darkness as Foes Refuse to Shift Stances

Efforts to resolve the controversial crisis of Electricite du Liban reached a standstill on Tuesday as the contract workers refused to budge on their demands and the company’s board of directors is insisting on its stance.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati entered into negotiations between the rival sides in an attempt to avert a looming electricity crisis in the country.

Local newspapers reported that Miqati contacted on Monday Energy Minister Jebran Bassil, Director-General of state-run EDL Kamal al-Hayek and head of General Labor Confederation Ghassan Ghosn.

“Saying that Lebanon will plunge in darkness is a bit exaggerated,” sources close to Miqati told As Safir newspaper, stressing that contacts are ongoing with the concerned parties to “find a solution for the crisis.”

The daily reported that Bassil adopted the stance of EDL board of directors, warning of nationwide blackout if the situation remains as it is.

On Monday, EDL warned that the contract workers’ occupation of the company’s headquarters in Mar Mikhael in Beirut will lead to a power blackout throughout Lebanon.

However, EDL contract workers committee lashed out at the board of directors’ announcement, saying that “if a complete blackout occurred it would be on purpose.”

“There are more than one control center across Lebanon that EDL can use,” the committee said.

Head of the parliamentary energy committee MP Mohammed Qabbani also criticized in comments published in al-Liwaa newspaper the board of directors’ statements.

“There’s no reason for electricity blackout as long as the power stations and the plants are working,” he noted.

Qabbani said that the National Control Center (NCC), that is located on the ninth floor of EDL’s headquarters in Mar Mikhael and through which the workers can control the electricity network, can be relocated to Zouk power plant north of Beirut where the board of directors moved.

The contract workers later held a press conference during which they stressed that their "peaceful and civilized sit-in will continue."

"We only resorted to escalation after we were left with no other choice," they added.

They also refused to be "accused of cutting off the electricity by Bassil who is the one responsible for that."

Ghosn told An Nahar newspaper that the initiative he is working on aims at setting the matter straight away from politics.

“The continuation of the crisis will lead to a massive political quarrel,” he said.

Labor Minister Salim Jreissati proposed a solution that seeks to preserve “the rights of the people,” An Nahar newspaper reported.

The proposal includes two main articles; the first is the full time employment of some contract workers by sitting for a closed exam as called for by a draft law approved by the parliament.

The second article ensures the continuation of work for those who don’t qualify to become permanent employees through granting them financial compensation in exchange for their 10 or 20 years of service at EDL.

Ghosn noted that contacts are ongoing with Jreissati to resolve the crisis, stressing the importance of “paying the contract workers their salaries in order to sort out the matter.”

Free Patriotic Movement sources told al-Akhbar newspaper that “the negotiation shattered all the energy and the mediations failed.”

The three-month strike held by the contract workers resumed on Monday as they closed all the entrances of the company’s headquarters in Mar Mikhael with metal chains while the full-time employees staged a counter-protest outside.

The contract workers are demanding EDL to pay them their June - July Salaries and their full-time employment.

Earlier in July the parliament endorsed a draft law approving the permanent employment of the workers, but the matter created a rift between Speaker Nabih Berri and FPM leader MP Michel Aoun as 80 percent of them are Shiites.