Oil & Gas

After a six-day journey, the Algerian fuel shipment aboard the tanker "Ain Aker" arrived in Lebanon at the port of Tripoli on August 27, 2024. The shipment, carrying 30,000 tons of fuel, is expected to partially alleviate Lebanon's severe power outage crisis.

According to live ship tracking data, the tanker docked at 3:37 PM Mecca time, and the fuel will be stored at Tripoli's oil facilities, to be later exchanged for fuel compatible with Lebanon’s power plants.

The shipment is part of an initiative by Sonatrach to assist Lebanon, where the electricity crisis had worsened following a complete shutdown of power plants due to a shortage of diesel. Electricité du Liban announced on August 17 that fuel supplies had been depleted, leading to blackouts across the country, including critical infrastructure like airports, prisons, and water plants.

The Algerian shipment is a first phase, with the possibility of more shipments in the future, as confirmed by Sonatrach.

Lebanese Energy Minister Walid Fayyad expressed gratitude to Algeria for its support during Lebanon’s ongoing crisis. He announced that a tender would soon be held to exchange the Algerian shipment for fuel compatible with Lebanon's electricity plants.

Fayyad emphasized the importance of Algeria's cooperation and praised the fuel’s high quality, noting its efficiency and low sulfur content, which are essential for electricity production.

Algeria’s initiative to supply Lebanon with "red diesel" reflects the close bilateral relations between the two nations. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had directed the shipment as part of a broader effort to support Lebanon through its energy crisis.

Minister Fayyad outlined a five-phase plan to address the electricity shortage, aiming to increase power generation from various sources, including local and international fuel supplies, to stabilize and boost the country's electricity grid to 800 megawatts by November 2024.