Lebanon and hydropower
Lebanon, located in the eastern Mediterranean, faces significant challenges in meeting its electricity needs, predominantly relying on imported fossil fuels for power generation. The country experiences frequent electricity shortages, with citizens receiving only a few hours of power daily. While Lebanon has begun to explore its own fossil fuel reserves, major developments in oil and gas extraction are expected to be delayed until at least 2025 and production may not commence until 2030. In 2022, Lebanon generated only about 4.141 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity compared to a consumption of 9.166 billion kilowatt-hours, with over 90 percent of its electricity derived from fossil fuels, a small portion generated from hydropower (6%) and solar energy (3%).
The state-owned Electricite du Liban (EDL) manages the electricity sector, but it has faced significant financial and operational challenges, exacerbated by regional conflicts and past civil unrest. The conflicts have historically damaged infrastructure, contributing to ongoing difficulties in the energy sector. Furthermore, the discovery of potential natural gas reserves in the Levant Basin has led to heightened tensions in the region, as Lebanon competes with neighboring countries over these resources. Overall, Lebanon's energy landscape is shaped by a complex interplay of environmental, economic, and geopolitical factors, making it a crucial area of interest for those studying energy policy and regional dynamics.
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Lebanon and hydropower
- Official Name: Republic of Lebanon.
Summary: Lebanon is located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea region. The country has struggled to meet its electricity needs for many years. It relies mostly on imported fossil fuels to fuel the generators it uses to create electricity. Its citizens must deal with inconsistent electricity, as they receive only a few hours of power per day. Its petroleum and natural gas potential is emerging.
Although Lebanon had begun using its own fossil fuel reserves, in 2024, it still relied heavily on imports. From 2021 to 2020, it imported petroleum valued at $430 million from Turkey, $420 million from Greece, $345 million from Italy.
Before the outburst of inner religious tensions that led to a civil war that lasted for fifteen years (1975–90) the country was an important crude oil refining center. Because of its geographical position, Lebanon was a convenient place for Iraqi and Saudi oil exports to be refined. The oil was taken through pipelines to the two most important Lebanese refineries, Zahrani and Tripoli, in the south and north of the country, respectively.
Drilling for oil and gas began in Lebanon in 2023. However, its involvement in the war in Gaza halted most of its plans. Experts believe that any potential gas discovery is not possible before 2025 and development and production cannot occur until 2030.
Electricity
In 2022, Lebanon consumed 9.166 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and generated only 4.141 million kilowatt-hours. More than 90 percent of its electricity came from fossil fuels, while 6 percent was generated from hydroelectricity and 3 percent came from solar power. Lebanese electricity is almost entirely generated and distributed by Electricite du Liban (EDL). Attempts to reform and privatize the company have so far run up against trade union opposition, although the agency is a considerable economic burden that greatly contributes to the public deficit. In the first half of 2006, prior to the war with Israel, EDL was already losing $1 billion. The conflict had a devastating impact on the electricity infrastructure, destroying fuel depots and power plants. A particularly tragic event was an Israeli air strike that destroyed the Jieh power plant, which provoked the spilling of 110,000 barrels of fuel oil into the Mediterranean and the contamination of more than 90 miles of Lebanese shoreline. It was calculated that the conflict caused $100 million in losses to the distribution network. The Lebanese environment had already suffered from damages to and mismanagement of the energy sector during the civil war, when oil import terminals run by enemy groups exhibited little consideration for environmental regulations.
Past Negative Factors
The increasing energy demand, the devastating effects of local and regional conflicts, the surge in oil and gas prices, and the absence of a clear and shared central energy policy have all been negative factors that have shaped the Lebanese energy sector in past decades.
In 2009, the US Geological Survey found a large natural gas reserve in the Levant Basin in an area whose waters are claimed to be within Lebanese borders. The Levant Basin was also reported to contain 1.7 billion barrels of recoverable oil. The discovery caused renewed tensions between Israel, Lebanon, and Syria as each of these three countries claimed a share of the reserves. For the Lebanese government, this discovery was a possible new source of energy and a revitalized economy after years of conflict.
Bibliography
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"Drilling Rig Arrives in Lebanon's Block 9 to Begin Exploration." Aljazeera, 16 Aug. 2023, www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/16/drilling-rig-arrives-in-lebanons-block-9-to-begin-exploration. Accessed 5 Aug. 2024.
"Energy System of Lebanon." International Energy Agency, 2021, https://www.iea.org/countries/lebanon. Accessed 4 Aug. 2024.
"Lebanon." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 31 July 2024, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/lebanon/. Accessed 4 Aug. 2024.
Oxford Business Group. The Report: Lebanon 2006. London: Oxford Business Group, 2007.