MP César Abi Khalil has spoken out about Lebanon’s chronic electricity crisis, strongly criticizing what he describes as a policy of delay by official authorities and warning that the current plans do not offer fundamental solutions for the sector.
Responding to repeated promises to provide 24-hour electricity, Abi Khalil pointed out that the current government — one of the longest-serving governments in recent years — has taken too long to present its plans, with those plans emerging only as its expected term draws to an end. In his view, the current approach is incapable of delivering a genuine solution.
Abi Khalil warned that the proposed plan would instead institutionalize an alternative system based on “legalizing private generators” and dividing areas into small electricity islands, with distribution shaped by patronage and funding.
He also noted that, at present, 24/7 electricity is being provided through private generators rather than Électricité du Liban, at a cost that he says is roughly three times higher than official electricity, placing an additional heavy financial burden on citizens who are already struggling with the country’s economic crisis.
