Lebanon loses some electricity after Turkish company ceases operations

Karpowership said they stopped providing electricity to crisis-stricken Lebanon due to 18 months of no payments.

Al-Monitor Staff
Al-Monitor Staff
May 14, 2021
An aerial view shows Lebanon's capital, Beirut, in darkness during a power outage on April 3, 2021. As Lebanon battles its worst financial crisis in decades, the local currency has lost more than 85% of its value on the black market. Even the country's once richest city council says it is struggling to maintain its streets, as the economic squeeze puts pressure on already rundown infrastructure.
An aerial view shows Lebanon's capital, Beirut, in darkness during a power outage on April 3, 2021. As Lebanon battles its worst financial crisis in decades, the local currency has lost more than 85% of its value on the black market. Even the country's once richest city council says it is struggling to maintain its streets, as the economic squeeze puts pressure on already rundown infrastructure. — DYLAN COLLINS/AFP via Getty Images

Lebanon lost a significant amount of its electricity today after a Turkish provider ceased operations.

The Istanbul-based Karpowership turned off its generators in Lebanon on Friday. The company told the Lebanese government this was due to 18 months of not receiving payments, according to the state’s official media outlet.

“It would be impossible for any company to work in an environment such as this,” Karpowership said in a statement published by the National News Agency.

The generators are aboard two ships off the Lebanese coast. Karpowership turned off the electricity at around 8 a.m. local time. Lebanon’s state-run power company, Electrecite du Liban, said they are increasing capacity in some power plants to raise production, though this will not totally make up for the loss, according to National News Agency. The Turkish company provides Lebanon with about one-quarter of its electrical supply.

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