Lebanon’s main power plants have been forced to shut down due to a lack of fuel, bringing power to a standstill across the country and affecting key facilities, the country’s only state-owned electricity company said on Saturday.
The blackout occurred after the Deir Ammar and Zahrani power plants, the country’s main energy sources, ran out of diesel and stopped operating at noon on Saturday, according to a statement from state-owned power producer Electricité du Liban (EDL).
The power outage caused disruption to vital infrastructure, including airports, ports, water pumping stations, sewage treatment plants and prisons.
Lebanese Energy and Water Minister Walid Fayad later said efforts were underway to provide some fuel to the state-owned utility in order to restore power.
The fuel shortage was reportedly due to the company’s inability to pay for Iraqi fuel.
Even before this suspension, Lebanon’s state-run electricity company only supplied electricity for a few hours a day, leaving most residents dependent on expensive private generators.
The EDL has pledged to restore power but has not provided a clear timetable. Power outages have become increasingly frequent in recent years as the government grapples with severe financial challenges.
Lebanon faces nationwide power outage due to fuel shortage
Lebanon faces nationwide power outage due to fuel shortage
Kenya has more than 40 national parks and nature reserves. The country’s vast landscapes have long been considered a wildlife wonderland, attracting visitors from all over the world with their unique wildlife.
Within the East African country, Amboseli National Park and Samburu National Reserve are among the most popular tourist destinations.
Amboseli National Park is located near the Kenya-Tanzania border at the foot of Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. The park covers an area of over 390 square kilometers and is known for its large herds of elephants. Amboseli is also home to a variety of other wildlife, including lions, leopards, buffalo, zebras and giraffes. The park’s wetlands and swamps also provide a haven for a variety of rare bird species and attract keen birdwatchers and photographers.
Further north, Samburu National Reserve is considered a prime wildlife photography destination alongside the Masai Mara and Amboseli National Park. It attracts animals because the Ewaso Ng’iro River flows through the reserve and because it is home to acacia trees, riparian forests, thorn bushes and grassland vegetation. The reserve is particularly known for its unique animal species, such as the Grevy’s zebra, giraffe gazelle, reticulated giraffe and Somali ostrich. Lions, cheetahs and leopards are also frequently sighted, offering visitors plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities.
Kenya launched the National Biodiversity Coordination Mechanism earlier this month to strengthen conservation efforts. The mechanism is expected to be instrumental in achieving the targets set out in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for urgent action to reduce threats to biodiversity and meet people’s needs through sustainable use and benefit-sharing by 2030.
Kenya’s national parks offer wonderful wildlife experiences
