SIDON, Lebanon: Several individuals blocked the main road leading to the southern city of Tyre Sunday in protest at repeated power outages in the city.

The demonstrators warned they would adopt harsher measures if their demand for better electricity supply were not met.

They carried signs condemning “corruption” at the Energy Ministry, and held a demonstration in front of an Electricite Du Liban branch in the north of the city.

They chanted slogans calling for the resignation of Energy Minister Jibran Bassil and urged the government to take responsibility for the deteriorating condition of electricity in the area.

One of the protesters told The Daily Star that their move Sunday “was merely symbolic” and warned that the protesters would escalate action if the situation did not improve.

The protests led to heavy traffic at the entrance of the city which prompted the Lebanese Army to interfere and reopen roads.

Endemic power cuts have worsened during the winter season as maintenance work on several production units takes its toll on electricity supply.

Citizens throughout the country, particularlyin south Lebanon, the Chouf and the Bekaa regions, have held demonstrationsto protest the ongoing electricitycrisis.

Lebanon’s consumption exceeds 2,400 megawatts, far greater than the 1,500 MW produced.

On Jan. 23, Electricite Du Liban announced it had completed maintenance work on the first gas turbine at the Zahrani power plant, which is expected to increase electricity supply by 1,500 MW.

Work is still under way at a power plant in Jiyyeh, south of Beirut, which is also expected to boost electricity supply.