Red Diesel Scandal Probe Focuses on Authority that Stands Behind it
The investigation of the Central Inspection Board on an energy scandal has focused on the authority that gave the orders to the refinery in northern Lebanon to deliver huge amounts of red diesel hours before the end of a one-month government subsidy, An Nahar daily reported Sunday.
It quoted sources involved in the investigation as saying that the Board’s preliminary report will be handed over to Speaker Nabih Berri and the head of the parliamentary energy committee, MP Mohammed Qabbani, on Monday for action.
According to the sources, the probe focused not on the huge amount of red diesel sold on January 18 - the last day of the government subsidy of LL3,000 per jerry can - but on who gave the orders to the refinery in the North to extend working hours to deliver these quantities to oil distribution companies.
The sources said the employees at the Dei Ammar refinery worked beyond 2:00 pm on January 18 to 2:30 am the next day, meaning working hours were extended by 12 and a half hours.
An Nahar stressed that in similar cases of government subsidies, previous energy ministers gave orders to stop the delivery of red diesel to distribution companies three days before the end of the subsidy period to force them into selling the amounts in their possession.
Some officials have pointed their fingers at Energy Minister Jebran Bassil, saying he had given preferential treatment for the companies in the North for election purposes.
The scandal erupted after citizens began complaining of red diesel shortage during the subsidy period. Then reports began emerging that around 8 million liters were sold to the distribution companies hours before the end of the one-month period at subsidized prices.
The companies allegedly made millions of dollars of benefits by selling those amounts at the nonsubsidized price.
The Central Inspection Board and the Audit Bureau have closely cooperated in the probe, An Nahar said.
On Friday, al-Mustaqbal daily quoted the head of the Audit Bureau, Judge Aouni Ramadan, as saying the investigation showed that the red diesel sold on January 18 amounted to 101 million liters.
Bassil, however, stressed that the amount did not exceed the rate that was registered days earlier and which amounted to 7-8.5 million liters.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/28219 |