Lebanon cuts power to public bodies as electricity crisis deepens

What the report says

Lebanon’s Ministry of Energy and Water has started cutting electricity to about 100 public institutions that have unpaid bills, according to local media cited by Al Jazeera. The move, which began taking effect on Monday in Beirut, comes as the country’s long-running power crisis worsens and highlights a growing standoff between Energy Minister Joe Saddi and the government.

Saddi has been boycotting cabinet meetings, arguing that officials are not doing enough to improve power supply, ease fuel costs and settle debts owed to the state electricity company. The dispute has added to pressure on Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s government and fuelled speculation about a possible cabinet reshuffle. Al Jazeera reports that Saddi’s criticism has also drawn attention from political rivals, including figures linked to Lebanon’s Free Patriotic Movement.

The article says Lebanon has suffered chronic blackouts for years, with state electricity collapsing further after the 2019 economic and banking crisis. In Beirut, public supply has reportedly fallen from about 21 hours a day before the crisis to only a few hours now, with some days bringing no state power at all. Experts quoted by Al Jazeera said the sector needs deeper structural reform, pointing to corruption, aging infrastructure and a heavy reliance on private generators as major obstacles.

The report also notes that Qatar has signaled possible energy assistance, including a solar project and reported plans for power plants and gas supply, but analysts said lasting improvement will depend on broader political and economic reform rather than short-term fixes.