The Lebanese electricity company, Électricité du Liban (EDL), announced today that the last remaining power generation unit on the national grid has completely shut down, resulting in a nationwide blackout.

"Under the current conditions, we inform you that as of this afternoon, Saturday, August 17, 2024, the last power generation unit at the Zahrani plant has completely ceased operations," the company stated.

The outage is attributed to the "complete depletion of the plant's fuel oil reserves," which has led to a total disruption of electricity supply across Lebanon, affecting essential services such as airports, ports, water pumps, sewage systems, and prisons.

The company explained that this shutdown followed the exhaustion of all possible precautionary measures aimed at extending the energy production period as long as possible.

Regarding the restart of the power units, the company noted that they would be resumed once fuel oil is secured, which will allow for a gradual restoration of electricity.

In response to EDL's statement, Fadi El-Hassan, Director General of Civil Aviation in Beirut, told Lebanese media that "the airport is currently using generators for power, and we hope the crisis will not be prolonged."The Lebanese electricity company, Électricité du Liban (EDL), announced today that the last remaining power generation unit on the national grid has completely shut down, resulting in a nationwide blackout.

"Under the current conditions, we inform you that as of this afternoon, Saturday, August 17, 2024, the last power generation unit at the Zahrani plant has completely ceased operations," the company stated.

The outage is attributed to the "complete depletion of the plant's fuel oil reserves," which has led to a total disruption of electricity supply across Lebanon, affecting essential services such as airports, ports, water pumps, sewage systems, and prisons.

The company explained that this shutdown followed the exhaustion of all possible precautionary measures aimed at extending the energy production period as long as possible.

Regarding the restart of the power units, the company noted that they would be resumed once fuel oil is secured, which will allow for a gradual restoration of electricity.

In response to EDL's statement, Fadi El-Hassan, Director General of Civil Aviation in Beirut, told Lebanese media that "the airport is currently using generators for power, and we hope the crisis will not be prolonged."