October 8, 2026
The presidential visit and its dimensions:
The Minister of Energy and Water, Joe Al-Saddi, met with the President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, at Baabda Palace, to inform him of the reasons for his abstention from attending Cabinet sessions, on the eve of the government session scheduled for tomorrow, while emphasizing his continued conduct of his ministry’s work normally.
Details of financial demands and the energy sector:
During the meeting, Al-Saddi presented his urgent demands for the energy sector, focusing on the necessity of securing the necessary funding for the Electricité du Liban Corporation, and demanding that the state pay financial arrears amounting to approximately $300 million, as well as compensating the corporation for the exemptions approved by the state during the war, in a way that guarantees its ability to purchase fuel and continue electrical supply to citizens.
Backgrounds of I’tikaf and the Minister’s position:
Minister Al-Sadi explained to the President of the Republic that his escalatory step does not represent an abandonment of responsibilities, but rather is a form of objection to bearing the cost of the energy crisis on the citizen alone, indicating that the continuation of the current situation puts him in front of an extremely difficult equation in light of the shifting responsibilities between the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Finance without providing the required funds.
Government expectations and efforts:
It is expected that these demands will top the agenda of tomorrow’s Cabinet session, at a time when the concerned authorities are seeking to contain Al-Saddi’s position and address his crisis before the session is held, especially since the Minister conditioned his withdrawal from boycotting the sessions on taking serious and effective government decisions to save the electricity file.
