The attack on the minister of energy: covering past failures or genuine accountability?
Caline Fadel
1/13/2026 9:09:00 PM
Lebanon’s electricity crisis was never merely a technical issue or a case of temporary mismanagement. Over more than a decade, it became a glaring example of a “systematic and deliberate destruction” (as described by Member of Parliament Ghassan Hasbani of the “Strong Republic” bloc) of public funds and the absence of sound governance.
From 2010 until February 2025, Lebanese citizens bore the cost of policies based on temporary solutions, open-ended subsidies and continuous borrowing, while electricity supply remained limited, infrastructure deteriorated and collection rates were minimal; especially in certain politically sensitive areas.
Today, with a new minister taking charge of the portfolio, political debate has resurfaced, raising the question: is the Free Patriotic Movement’s recent attack on the minister a legitimate accountability effort, or an attempt to divert attention from past failures?
How was the electricity sector exhausted over the past 15 years?
The deficit incurred by the Electricité du Liban (EDL) from 2010 to 2020 reached approximately $24.5 billion. The forensic audit report by “Alvarez & Marsal” clearly showed that this period, when the FPM oversaw the electricity file through successive ministers, was marked by financial and administrative practices that led to debt accumulation without any real improvement in service, production or collection.
Excessive reliance on fuel oil, leasing of power barges, delaying long-term tenders and the absence of a regulatory authority all contributed to institutionalized waste, while announced plans for renewable energy and gas remained promises. The 2020 “Sonatrach” fuel scandal was merely one example highlighting weak oversight, the politicization of management and corruption within the executive authority; entrenching monopolies and ensuring their continuation over 15 years.
The FPM’s attack on the current Minister Joe Saddo: is it justified?
The current attack cannot be separated from the struggle over the “legacy” of this sector.
Any attempt to reveal the costs of the previous period or to change operational rules is perceived by some political forces as automatic condemnation of years of ministry control without sustainable results. Furthermore, the new minister faces high expectations, with demands for full electricity supply within months, while accumulated collapse makes immediate improvement technically and financially unrealistic. Dismantling vested interests connected to fuel and private generators naturally generates political and media resistance.
Legitimate accountability requires a fair comparison between what has been achieved and what was previously obstructed. Responsibility cannot be placed solely on one minister for a legacy spanning more than 15 years, nor can immediate results be demanded despite billions of dollars already spent.
A more meaningful approach is evaluating the trajectory: is the state continuing to borrow and provide open-ended subsidies, or is it moving toward fiscal discipline and governance frameworks? From this perspective, the attack appears aimed at confusing public opinion, reducing debate to selective numbers rather than addressing the crisis fundamentally.
What has Minister Joe Saddi achieved so far?
The current Minister of Energy and Water Joe Saddi assumed office in February 2025, taking charge of one of Lebanon’s most complex portfolios amid an unprecedented economic and institutional collapse. From the outset, he set a clear goal: transitioning the electricity sector from temporary fixes to a sustainable path.
Among his most notable achievements is halting the accumulation of public debt by stopping fuel loans and subsidies as well as relying on EDL’s self-collection system, thereby limiting the drain on public funds. He also focused on improving billing, combating waste and theft in cooperation with security agencies, while acknowledging current production limits.
In the medium and long term, Saddi launched a comprehensive plan to increase production capacity through new gas-powered plants (via transparent, long-term tenders), advance renewable energy projects and shift from fuel oil to natural gas to diversify energy sources, reduce costs and cut pollution. He also worked on rehabilitating the electricity network and modernizing control systems with support from the World Bank and Arab funds. Reform-wise, the initiation of the Electricity Regulatory Authority (as stipulated by Law No. 462/2002; dormant for years) was a pivotal step in restoring investor confidence, alongside modernizing EDL on professional, apolitical grounds.
These measures do not produce immediate miracles, but they establish a fundamental difference between an administration that perpetuates crises and one that seeks to build a sustainable sector.
In conclusion, Lebanon’s electricity crisis is the result of long-standing policy failures and cannot be reduced to a fleeting political dispute. Criticism and accountability are necessary, but it is crucial to distinguish between fact-based accountability and political campaigns aimed at obscuring documented responsibilities. What Lebanese citizens need today is not an exchange of accusations, but a clear reform path that ends depletion, restores transparency and sustainability to the sector and lays the groundwork for genuine accountability addressing both past and present.
From 2010 until February 2025, Lebanese citizens bore the cost of policies based on temporary solutions, open-ended subsidies and continuous borrowing, while electricity supply remained limited, infrastructure deteriorated and collection rates were minimal; especially in certain politically sensitive areas.
Today, with a new minister taking charge of the portfolio, political debate has resurfaced, raising the question: is the Free Patriotic Movement’s recent attack on the minister a legitimate accountability effort, or an attempt to divert attention from past failures?
How was the electricity sector exhausted over the past 15 years?
The deficit incurred by the Electricité du Liban (EDL) from 2010 to 2020 reached approximately $24.5 billion. The forensic audit report by “Alvarez & Marsal” clearly showed that this period, when the FPM oversaw the electricity file through successive ministers, was marked by financial and administrative practices that led to debt accumulation without any real improvement in service, production or collection.
Excessive reliance on fuel oil, leasing of power barges, delaying long-term tenders and the absence of a regulatory authority all contributed to institutionalized waste, while announced plans for renewable energy and gas remained promises. The 2020 “Sonatrach” fuel scandal was merely one example highlighting weak oversight, the politicization of management and corruption within the executive authority; entrenching monopolies and ensuring their continuation over 15 years.
The FPM’s attack on the current Minister Joe Saddo: is it justified?
The current attack cannot be separated from the struggle over the “legacy” of this sector.
Any attempt to reveal the costs of the previous period or to change operational rules is perceived by some political forces as automatic condemnation of years of ministry control without sustainable results. Furthermore, the new minister faces high expectations, with demands for full electricity supply within months, while accumulated collapse makes immediate improvement technically and financially unrealistic. Dismantling vested interests connected to fuel and private generators naturally generates political and media resistance.
Legitimate accountability requires a fair comparison between what has been achieved and what was previously obstructed. Responsibility cannot be placed solely on one minister for a legacy spanning more than 15 years, nor can immediate results be demanded despite billions of dollars already spent.
A more meaningful approach is evaluating the trajectory: is the state continuing to borrow and provide open-ended subsidies, or is it moving toward fiscal discipline and governance frameworks? From this perspective, the attack appears aimed at confusing public opinion, reducing debate to selective numbers rather than addressing the crisis fundamentally.
What has Minister Joe Saddi achieved so far?
The current Minister of Energy and Water Joe Saddi assumed office in February 2025, taking charge of one of Lebanon’s most complex portfolios amid an unprecedented economic and institutional collapse. From the outset, he set a clear goal: transitioning the electricity sector from temporary fixes to a sustainable path.
Among his most notable achievements is halting the accumulation of public debt by stopping fuel loans and subsidies as well as relying on EDL’s self-collection system, thereby limiting the drain on public funds. He also focused on improving billing, combating waste and theft in cooperation with security agencies, while acknowledging current production limits.
In the medium and long term, Saddi launched a comprehensive plan to increase production capacity through new gas-powered plants (via transparent, long-term tenders), advance renewable energy projects and shift from fuel oil to natural gas to diversify energy sources, reduce costs and cut pollution. He also worked on rehabilitating the electricity network and modernizing control systems with support from the World Bank and Arab funds. Reform-wise, the initiation of the Electricity Regulatory Authority (as stipulated by Law No. 462/2002; dormant for years) was a pivotal step in restoring investor confidence, alongside modernizing EDL on professional, apolitical grounds.
These measures do not produce immediate miracles, but they establish a fundamental difference between an administration that perpetuates crises and one that seeks to build a sustainable sector.
In conclusion, Lebanon’s electricity crisis is the result of long-standing policy failures and cannot be reduced to a fleeting political dispute. Criticism and accountability are necessary, but it is crucial to distinguish between fact-based accountability and political campaigns aimed at obscuring documented responsibilities. What Lebanese citizens need today is not an exchange of accusations, but a clear reform path that ends depletion, restores transparency and sustainability to the sector and lays the groundwork for genuine accountability addressing both past and present.