Report: Iraq Agrees to Secure Half of Lebanon’s Oil Needs

W460

The Iraqi government approved to provide Lebanon with Iraqi oil increasing this support from 500,000 tons to one million tons, al-Akhbar daily reported on Wednesday.

Iraq’s crude oil support for Lebanon was first approved during the recent April visit of caretaker Energy Minister Raymond Ghajar to Iraq accompanied by General Security chief Ibrahim Abbas, said the daily.

According to reports, a preliminary agreement was signed earlier between the two countries that would see Lebanon trade its medical expertise for 500,000 tons of Iraqi oil. The amount was doubled later on.

The move was not announced then until some “Iraqi” problems were resolved, al-Akhbar said.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa el-Kazemi informed concerned parties in Lebanon that he will raise the issue of increasing the quantity of crude oil in the cabinet session (Tuesday). Despite some opposition, the Council was decisive in passing the resolution confirming support for Lebanon.

Lebanon's ailing electricity sector is facing dire cash shortages, as the country grapples with its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.

Ghajar has warned that electricity supply was becoming critical and that the crisis-stricken country could be plunged into total darkness by June's end.

Lebanon is wrangling with an unprecedented economic and financial crisis since late 2019, and has been facing increasingly severe fuel shortages in recent months, with long queues at service stations and some drivers waiting more than an hour to buy even small quantities of supplies.

Iraq

SourceNaharnet
Comments 2
Default-user-icon Trueself (Guest) 09 June 2021, 13:06

We have become beggars. I remember when I was working in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as a Christian, and holding a very high position within a multi-national company and doing work for the Saudi government, the Saudis were holding the Lebanese in high esteem viewing them as professionals and smart, and giving them salaries tantamount to salaries they gave to the British (millions per year). Recent call I had with a friend of mine revealed how the picture changed for the Lebanese people. The Saudis now view the Lebanese as people from countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan and India, which means we lost our good stature as Lebanese thanks to this midget Aoun, who destroyed the country and made the Christians a low life people in the eyes of others.

Thumb i.report 09 June 2021, 15:55

Look how low Lebanon has fallen under this ‘strong presidency’.

The criminal ruling class must pay!