Lebanon’s need for additional generating capacity is urgent. Total available capacity is around 1.5gw while potential peak demand this summer is expected to be as high as 3gw. In a bid to reduce daily power cuts, Lebanon chartered a 175mw power barge, operated by Turkey’s Karkey Karadeniz (MEES, 12 April). However, the barge was off-line for most of April and May and only became fully operational in June.
The operator blamed poor quality fuel oil, supplied by Electricité du Liban (EDL), but Lebanon’s Court of Accounts ruled that Karadeniz had tested and accepted the delivered fuel. The court’s investigation committee also said that a delay in the supply of a second power barge by Karadeniz – initially expected to arrive in June – was linked to the fuel quality dispute. (CONTINUED - 288 WORDS)
