Algerian fuel tanker on mercy mission to power-short Lebanon

An Algerian oil tanker set sail Thursday for power-hungry Lebanon, official media said, with 30,000 tons of fuel destined to restart turbines in the country grappling with years of economic meltdown.

Clashes in Lebanon’s south since last October has only added to the troubles of a country which is politically largely rudderless, whose economy collapsed five years ago and where power blackouts are routine.

Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui spoke by telephone with his Lebanese counterpart, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, “to inform him of the decision taken by President Tebboune to stand beside brother Lebanon… and immediately provide a quantity of fuel to make the power plant function and re-establish electricity,” Algeria’s official APS agency reported.

Other shipments are expected to follow the initial delivery but no details have been released.

Algeria’s President Abdelmajid Tebboune took the decision to help Lebanon after Lebanon’s state-run electricity company on Saturday said its turbines would stop due to lack of fuel.

Lebanese, long used to power cuts lasting almost an entire day, have relied on small private electricity generators.

Algeria is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

In August, 2022, another OPEC member, Iraq, said it had agreed to renew a one-year deal to provide Lebanon with one million tons of fuel for its power plants in exchange for in-kind services.

The initial deal with Iraq enabled Lebanon’s power stations to produce one to two hours of electricity per day.