Random Thoughts from Lebanon

As I write this, at 4.15 pm local time, we have had main electricity continuously for the last 48 hours. To people in most parts of the world this may not seem unusual, but in Lebanon the electricity supply has been quite severely rationed for many years. A combination of incompetence and corruption and the reluctance of consumers to pay their bills all contribute to the problems of the Electricity Authority, which is the beneficiary of subsidies from the government to the tune of USD 1 billion per year and still charges rates among the highest in the world for an intermittent supply.

In recent weeks, however, the supply has been better and cuts fewer. Quite why, no-one can say but it is a welcome relief from dependence on our stand-by generator. Everyone has to have an alternative to the main electricity supply and in all towns and cities privately owned neighbourhood generators will provide this service in return for a regular monthly payment. Others, like me, have their own generator, but with the cost of diesel fuel having increased by about 50% in the last month running costs have escalated and therefore the more reliable main supply is most welcome.

The Arab League “Summit” in Damascus a week ago has done nothing to resolve the Lebanese political situation. Boycotted by Lebanon, and attended by only low-level delegations from about half the membership, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, it was destined to become a non-event. On the surface, we seem to be in a situation where nothing is happening. Behind the scenes, there is talk of re-starting the National Dialogue” among all Lebanese factions and, while this is very desirable, the chances of it commencing discussions, let alone agreeing on anything, seem remote.