Energy Ministry Blames Poor Weather on Delay in Delivery of Red Diesel
The Energy Ministry revealed that it had delivered 10 million liters of red diesel subsidized by LL 3,000 per jerry can to the Zahrani plants that had witnessed a severe shortage in fuel, reported the daily An Nahar on Friday.
The Ministry said in a statement: “The thunderstorm on January 18 prevented the delivery of diesel to Zahrani, which led to the shortage.”
It also ordered “all companies that obtain their supply of diesel from the plant to receive the supply from the northern city of Tripoli, which resulted in establishments in the city receiving greater quantities of the fuel.”
Sources from the Ministry told the daily that it will soon reveal the truth in the developments, asserting that it had sold lesser quantities of red diesel than it had expected.
Meanwhile, the head of the public works and energy committee MP Mohammed Qabbani told An Nahar that he had requested the head of the central inspection board Georges Awad to verify the figures that were released by the Energy Ministry on the delivery of red diesel from Zahrani to Tripoli.
These developments were accompanied by demonstrations in various regions in Lebanon, including Aley where residents demanded the resignation of Energy Minister Jebran Bassil.
National Struggle Front MP Akram Shehayeb slammed the “injustice” in the distribution of diesel in Lebanon, adding that the unavailability of red diesel resulted in financial losses.
In Khadeh, protesters blocked the road leading to Beirut in protest to the diesel shortage and frequent power cuts.
Cabinet approved in December an article to lift the Value Added Tax on red diesel.
It also agreed to subsidize red diesel by LL 3,000 per jerry can (20 liters) starting Monday until a decree lifting the VAT is approved, reported OTV.
Agriculture Minister Hussein al-Hajj Hassan said that eliminating the VAT on red diesel is the best way to support this product.
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