Lebanon at risk of total blackout by month end

Lebanon’s state electricity company said on Thursday it risked a total blackout across the country by end-september as its fuel oil reserves dwindle.

Lebanon, in the throes of one of the worst economic meltdowns of modern history, has been plagued by worsening fuel shortages for the past few months with most Lebanese relying on private generators for power.

The company can generate less than 500 megawatts from fuel oil it secured through a deal with Iraq, it said in a statement. It said its reserves of fuel oil had reached a critical point and had run out already for some plants that have now stopped production.