BEIRUT - Lebanon is on the verge of a blackout within three to four days due to the lack of fuel in most of the power stations here, said the media Saturday.

As-Safir newspaper stated that Lebanon electricity authorities announced that several fuel factories had stopped working for financial and security reasons.

Rationing of electricity consumption began in Beirut and areas in the north and south regions of the country, with suspension periods reaching over 14 hours a day, the paper said, adding that four containerships filled with fuel were waiting for permission to unload their cargo.

The newspaper indicated that the ships, docked in Al-Zahrani port 40 days ago, were costing the treasury a daily burden of over USD 30,000.

A sum of about USD 110 million is needed monthly to pay for fuel from Syria, supply of which was put on halt over a month ago. Lebanon used to get about 120 to 140 megawatts from its Arab neighboring state. -Kuna