Lebanon Seeks to End the “Adulterated Fuel” Crisis with Algeria

Lebanese Minister of Energy, Walid Fayad, clarified the latest developments regarding the “adulterated fuel crisis” with Algeria.

Walid Fayad stated to the platform “Al-Taqa” that Lebanon had decided to drop the lawsuit previously filed against the national company “Sonatrach,” emphasizing that the Lebanese Ministry of Energy is keen on strengthening its partnership with Algerian institutions, including Sonatrach.

Fayad added that the Ministry of Energy supports the Lebanese government’s efforts to revive partnership relations with Algeria in accordance with legal frameworks that protect the interests of both countries.

The “Al-Taqa” platform reported that Beirut seeks to close the file on the “adulterated fuel crisis” in parallel with improving relations between the two countries, especially after Algeria sent a fuel shipment as a donation to help Lebanon address the electricity crisis.

In mid-October, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati held a meeting with several officials to discuss possible legal solutions for this case.

The “Al-Taqa” platform also reported, based on informed sources, that Algeria plans to send a new fuel shipment to Lebanon as a donation.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had previously ordered in August the dispatch of a fuel shipment to Lebanon to alleviate the energy crisis.

It is worth noting that Algeria supported Lebanon despite the “adulterated fuel” crisis, which had led to a temporary halt in Algerian fuel exports to Lebanon.

In 2020, the Lebanese government accused Sonatrach of selling adulterated fuel, which prompted Sonatrach to take the matter to the International Court of Arbitration due to Lebanon’s non-payment for previously imported shipments.

In 2022, Beirut returned to the negotiation table with Algeria to try to resolve this issue and resume importing Algerian fuel.