Strike Puts Lebanon at Risk of Blackout, Hayek Tells Daily Star

Lebanon could be plunged into darkness if part-time workers staging a sit-in at Electricite du Liban’s headquarters don’t evacuate the building, the Daily Star reported today, citing Kamal Hayek, the electricity company’s director-general.

Collection of electricity bills stopped after the employees began the strike more than two months ago to demand the government give them full-time work, Hayek said. He said some striking bill collectors are holding more than $650,000 of electricity bills they collected from subscribers. Most areas across Lebanon are experiencing severe power rationing.

To contact the reporter on this story: Donna Abu-Nasr in Beirut at dabunasr@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew J. Barden at barden@bloomberg.net