This text was initially printed in, translated from, the Lebanese newspaper Al Joumhouria.
After the suspension of the Sayrafa change platform, will it stay the first reference for pricing in electrical energy payments, plus 20 %? Or will the brand new tariff be primarily based on the fastened market fee of 89,500 Lebanese kilos, which has been in place for months? And can electrical energy payments begin to be invoiced in {dollars}?
Knowledgeable sources throughout the Electricité du Liban (EDL) revealed to Al-Joumhouria that the electrical energy billing fee will proceed to be primarily based on the Sayrafa platform’s US greenback fee (regardless of its cessation), utilizing the speed that was in impact on July 31, 2023, which was 85,500 Lebanese kilos per greenback, plus 20 %.
That is primarily based on the ministerial committee’s choice, which stipulates that pricing must be primarily based on the Sayrafa fee plus 20 % for the primary six months of the present 12 months till the top of June.
The sources then revealed that it’s attainable to cost electrical energy payments in {dollars} and go away the selection of fee foreign money to the citizen, whether or not in Lebanese kilos or {dollars}, particularly after the issuance of a ruling by the Laws and Session Authority that enables for this.
Nevertheless, if adopted, this strategy will apply to payments issued from July or June onwards, not earlier than that.
Moreover, the sources confirmed that EDL is making ready the mechanism for pricing in {dollars}, and the mannequin to be adopted to this point would be the Sayrafa fee plus 20 % for individuals who want to pay in Lebanese kilos and the market greenback fee for individuals who want to pay in {dollars}, except the Central Financial institution of Lebanon decides in any other case, i.e., a change within the billing calculation methodology. Subsequently, EDL will probably be certain by the mechanism imposed by the Central Financial institution of Lebanon.
The identical sources additionally talked about that EDL is presently engaged on addressing the difficulty of fastened expenses on electrical energy payments, expressing concern {that a} world enhance in oil costs might lower the anticipated distinction because of the discount of those expenses.
In response to what has been agreed upon within the ministerial committee, a 25 % discount is predicted to be utilized to fastened expenses, which incorporates each the subscription payment and the qualification payment.
It will occur whereas sustaining the sponsored fee for the primary half, which is 10 US cents per kilowatt-hour for the primary 100 kilowatt-hours of consumption, and lowering the speed for the second half to 26 US cents per kilowatt-hour for consumption exceeding 100 kilowatt-hours.
Is darkness postponed?
Within the meantime, sources have confirmed that there is no such thing as a imminent threat of an entire blackout in Lebanon throughout October. This assurance comes after the Ministry of Power’s prior warning.
Following the return of the gas ship anchored off the Lebanese coast, EDL took measures and actions to increase the usage of out there inventory for so long as attainable. These measures embrace lowering the Deir Ammar energy plant load and reprogramming the inventory distribution.
Because of this, it may be mentioned that the ability provide in October will stay as it’s at this time, which quantities to six hours in administrative Beirut and 4 hours in some areas.
Moreover, there will probably be a rise of two further hours ranging from the start of the next month in areas throughout the limits of administrative Beirut and zones provided by the amenities of the Nationwide Authority for the Litani River.
This additionally applies to all distribution shops that provide public amenities in all Lebanese governorates, following affirmation that the shops in these areas are free from any community encroachments.
Nevertheless, the sources have warned that the present state of affairs can’t proceed as it’s if the related authorities, such because the Finance Ministry and the Central Financial institution of Lebanon, don’t take motion to open credit for Iraqi oil and provoke the tender course of beneath public procurement legislation to safe the import of Iraqi oil earlier than the top of October.
That is the deadline for the expiration of the contract with Iraq, and it must be famous that the Lebanese authorities and the Iraqi facet have beforehand agreed on the contract.
Furthermore, the sources added, “If the Iraqi oil ships don’t arrive throughout November and December, we’ll undoubtedly face an issue in energy provide once more, ranging from mid-November.”
