What’s behind Algeria’s decision to send fuel to Lebanon?

An Algerian fuel donation to Lebanon is expected to ship out on Thursday in a last-ditch effort to help Beirut with its chronic power issues.

According to regional news reports, the first shipment of 30,000 tons of fuel oil from state-owned Sonatrach will depart for Lebanon in the next 24 hours.

Algeria’s state radio service had said on Sunday that the North African country will immediately begin supplying Lebanon with fuel for its power plants. The news followed Lebanon’s state power company, Electricite du Liban, announcing a complete power outage on Saturday, including at such critical facilities as the Beirut airport, Reuters reported. 

Details of the arrangement were not immediately clear. The London-based consultancy Argus reported on Monday that the initiative was still in the “preliminary” stage.