One of the Zahrani plant’s two gas units is still operating below full capacity. In a statement released last Wednesday, EDL said the damage inflicted to the unit would be fixed by the end of the week. However, in a statement released Thursday the institution said it expects maintenance work will now continue through Saturday, Aug. 1. Last week, a source told The Daily Star that the Zahrani plant would not be able to operate at full capacity before early August. “The institution’s engineers realized that there was a technical problem in the unit’s operation,” EDL’s most recent statement read. “The operating company was asked to examine it, and it turned out that it needed urgent maintenance to protect it.” The institution’s top priority is preventing any further damage to the unit, according to the release. “Not carrying out urgent maintenance could result in serious damage to the unit, something that could adversely affect the power supply to all Lebanese areas.” The Zahrani plant supplies power to Beirut as well as to some regions of Mount Lebanon and the south. Areas supplied by the plant have suffered from excessive rationing during its repair. The plant produces 450 megawatts at full capacity, 150 from each of its two gas units, and another 150 from a steam unit that runs off of them. But the steam unit requires both gas units to operate, so the plant is currently producing just 150 megawatts from its sole functioning gas unit. In the statement, EDL said it was trying to compensate for the reduction in power by drawing additional power from other sources. However, workers continue to face technical difficulties providing sufficient power to the city of Beirut and other areas. The Daily Star
