Lebanon Could See Additional Power Rationing Hours
Lebanon seems to be looking at additional power rationing hours in the looming summer as the result of the Electricite du Liban's fiscal deficit, and the inability of the Finance Ministry and the Energy Ministry to solve the differences that have been lingering on for long.
Power rationing hours could be upped to as long as 10 hours per day including administrative Beirut, a letter sent by EDL to the Energy ministry said on Monday.
The letter said that the deficit compels the institution to either up rationing hours or increase the tariff in a bid to reduce the current deficit.
EDL had requested the allocation of 3097 billion LBP to cover the deficit, but the Finance Ministry asked to reduce this amount to 2537 billion in a bid to urge better bill collection, and to reduce waste and electricity theft.
Electricity is a constant concern for the government, which allocates the third largest slice of its budget, after debt servicing and salaries, to power supply.
The country suffers daily power cuts, including in the capital where many businesses and apartment blocks use generators to tide them over during lengthy blackouts.
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