Reuters
The headquarters of the company “Sonatrach” in the capital, Algeria.
Algerian Energy Minister Abdelmadjid Attar considered the issue of “adulterated fuel” in Lebanon “a purely Lebanese problem” and that his country is not “a party to it.”
This came during his discussion in the National Assembly, the upper chamber of the Algerian Parliament, on this subject in which parties in Lebanon accuse Algeria of delivering “fake fuel,” which Algeria denied and considered its oil and gas company “Sonatrach” as “a lie and defaming its reputation.” Moreover, Algeria is demanding that Lebanon pay its dues, estimated at $ 18 million, in return for exporting 3 shipments of fuel to it, which the Lebanese side has so far refused.
This Algerian clarification comes on the heels of Lebanese media asserting that officials in Algeria had warned Beirut against resorting to international justice, after it was not possible to reach solutions by mutual consent, in case Lebanon did not pay its dues to the “Sonatrach” company. And in the event of resorting to international arbitration, other losses will be incurred by the Lebanese side, according to the Algerian newspaper, Al-Shorouk, which is based on an Algerian official whose identity has not been revealed.
For its part, “informed sources in the Lebanese Ministry of Energy” previously told Lebanese media that “what was reported about sending 3 shipments of gasoline to Lebanon and not paying for them is incorrect,” adding that this case “ended months ago, after Sonatrach replaced the fuel. Not conforming to specifications by sending a new ship to Lebanon. “
Source: Algerian newspaper “Al Shorouk”
