Lebanese Energy Ministry: No Fuel Use Before Lab Test Results Released

The Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water issued the following statement ahead of the Cabinet meeting: “On the eve of the Cabinet session, electrical activist Yahya Moulaoud posted on X, referring to what he described as a ‘strange and bizarre item’ on the agenda — a request by the Ministry of Energy and Water for exceptional Cabinet approval to issue discharge permits for all fuel-carrying vessels destined for Lebanon’s electricity generation plants operated by Electricite du Liban. The fuel is scheduled for delivery and receipt between August 2026 and October 2026, based on laboratory analysis results issued at loading ports from representative samples taken from those vessels.”

Concerns Over Fuel Integrity Raised Publicly

Moulaoud argued that this agenda item could facilitate fraud and grant suppliers greater leeway to evade accountability. Subsequently, a series of similar reports emerged, all hinting at the presence of adulterated fuel oil.

Ministry Clarifies Six Key Points

The Ministry emphasized the following: First, submitting such a request to the Cabinet is not unprecedented and has been applied in prior instances. Second, none of this fuel will be used unless test results issued by accredited international laboratories confirm full compliance with technical specifications. Third, the purpose of the measure is to gain time by enabling discharge during the waiting period for those lab results. Fourth, discharged materials will be stored in empty tanks, ensuring non-compliant batches cannot contaminate fuel already in Lebanon that meets specifications. Fifth, costs associated with re-exportation in case of non-compliance — along with financial guarantees — are already stipulated in the applicable tender conditions; the proposed Cabinet step does not require revisiting those terms or imposing additional financial burdens. Sixth, ongoing procedures and safeguards remain in place to prevent any adulterated fuel from entering the country.

The Ministry added: “We wish that Moulaoud — whose long-standing experience and extensive record in the energy and petroleum sectors are well known — had sought clarification before generating this confusion and providing media material for those with ill intent. The difficult situation facing the country and the sector cannot tolerate such populist actions.”