The state-owned electricity company Electricite du Liban (EDL) must pay such a figure ahead of time in order to guarantee electricity service in the country, but Parliament withheld that amount.

Parliamentary Public Works Committee decided on Thursday to delay the transfer due to the shortage of foreign exchange the country is fighting off.

Acting Ministers of Finance Ghazi Wazni and of Energy Raymond Ghajar, along with Deputy Nazih Najem, told Parliament the emergency of using such a figure to recover electricity service.

Najem stated that power situation in Lebanon became unbearable.

The lawmaker announced that Zouk Mosbeh power plant will stop operating on May 18 and, later, as well as other ones located in the north and south of the country.

Users will run the risk of being in hands of private companies that charge 10 times for the service, although they will also be limited due to shortage of fuel.

EDL´s board of directors has not been able to meet the country’s energy needs for decades, so that´s why Lebanon has been facing a three-hour daily power outage regime in some areas.

pll/mem / arc