Ministry of Energy: Seeking a 'Certificate of Innocence' for the Free Patriotic Movement's Performance is Futile

The Media Office of the Ministry of Energy and Water issued the following statement: "The Free Patriotic Movement and the media orbiting it persist in misleading citizens and distorting facts in search of a 'certificate of innocence' for their 16-year tenure, the debts they accumulated, and the advances obtained from depositors' funds, which practically contributed to the financial collapse and the loss of citizens' deposits.

In this context, they claim that the urgent draft law prepared by the government to open an additional appropriation under the general budget reserve for 2026 to pay part of Electricite du Liban's (EDL) outstanding dues owed by public administrations and institutions, as well as southern exemptions and war repairs, constitutes borrowing. However, this appropriation is to settle state liabilities incumbent upon it in favor of EDL, not an advance or borrowing.

On the other hand, MP Cesar Abi Khalil states that after adopting the 'dynamic' tariff in 2022, electricity generated approximately $700 million in working capital. Meanwhile, when Minister Joe Sadi took over the Ministry of Energy and Water on February 13, 2025, the working capital was around $88 million and 693 million LBP. Therefore, it would be more appropriate for FPM ministers to ask how this amount shrank and how arrears accumulated against public institutions, instead of falsely accusing the Lebanese Forces Party of squandering funds. It should be recalled that Sadi inherited a debt of one billion and fifteen million dollars owed to Iraq due to the contract with Lebanon, where the payment mechanism was not adhered to.

They are provoked by the fact that Minister Joe Sadi adopted a zero-debt policy and succeeded in pushing EDL to secure between 7 and 9 hours of supply in February 2026 solely from its collection revenue, while they accumulated debts on the Lebanese people. They are even more provoked by the spectacle of restoring the rule of law and EDL's effectiveness through the decision by the FPM sector to cut off delinquent state institutions and administrations from payment, taken under Sadi's direction and full support."