Lebanon's Zahrani power plant shuts down, parliament approves $200m loan
The assembly approved the loan after the energy ministry had said there were no more funds beyond March for the electricity company.
By REUTERSThe very first Belarusian nuclear power plant, which will have two power-generating units, is seen during Belarus emergency services drills, near the town of Ostrovets, Belarus October 11, 2019. (photo credit: REUTERS)
Lebanon's Zahrani power plant has shut down operations after running out of gas oil, the state news agency NNA said quoting a statement by the country's electricity company.Lebanon's parliament on Monday approved a $200 mln loan to be allocated for fuel imports for power generation.The assembly approved the loan after the energy ministry had said there were no more funds beyond March for the electricity company.The Zahrani power plant, one of Lebanon's four main electricity producers, has shut down after its fuel ran out.The company said there had been a delay offloading a spot cargo that arrived in Lebanon after complications arose as to the method through which the gas oil should be tested.Another cargo that was due to arrive from Kuwait was stuck in the Suez Canal after the waterway was blocked for nearly a week by a cargo ship.Lebanon, which is grappling with a deep financial crisis triggered by a mountain of debt, already lacks power generation capacity, so homes and businesses face power cuts for several hours each day.
