Lebanon Cuts Power to Public Buildings

The Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water began cutting electricity to roughly 100 public institutions on Monday. The service stops target buildings with overdue accounts, according to local media reports.

This move escalates a dispute between Energy Minister Joe Saddi and the broader government. Saddi has skipped cabinet meetings to pressure the administration. He argues that the state has ignored his demands to expand power supplies and relieve financial strain on the national grid.

Residents of Beirut once received about 21 hours of state electricity per day. That average has dropped to two or four hours in recent years. Some days offer no state power at all. Citizens now rely heavily on private generators, many of which are run by political parties or their allies.

The economic pressure is compounded by rising costs. The World Bank projects 17.5 percent inflation for 2026. Fuel prices have surged due to the United States-Israel war on Iran. Jessica Obeid, a Lebanese energy expert, stated that expensive diesel, aging plants, and corruption require comprehensive changes rather than temporary fixes.

Saddi, a member of the right-wing Lebanese Forces party, told media he pressed the government to prioritize electricity earlier this year. He reduced that pressure when the war with Israel intensified in March. His party objected to the draft 2027 budget announced in October. Three other ministers from his party joined the boycott last Thursday.

Sami Zoughaib, an economist at The Policy Initiative, described the boycott as a bid to protect the party's public support. Gebran Bassil, leader of the rival Free Patriotic Movement, has also criticized Saddi. Bassil previously held the energy portfolio but failed to provide around-the-clock state power.

Qatar has offered potential aid to ease the crisis. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani confirmed plans for an energy partnership during a visit to Beirut last month. Reuters reported that Qatar proposed building two power plants over three years and supplying liquefied natural gas under a 20-year agreement. The deal awaits approval.