As Lebanon struggles to purchase oil products for power generation, the current caretaker administration is turning to outdated solutions that continue to raise questions about their feasibility and efficacy, specifically when it comes to importing fuel oil from Iraq.

Since July 2020, Beirut and Baghdad have been holding talks over fuel oil supplies for Lebanon’s power generation, knowing well that Lebanese power plants run on fuel of certain specifications which the Iraqi fuel oil does not meet. Despite attempts by Lebanese and Iraqi officials to explain how the deal will be executed, the topic has remained murky, causing misunderstandings and confusion amongst the various stakeholders – what type of oil-based fuels Lebanon can, and should use, and of what fuel specifications exactly?