Cabinet Agrees to Lease Power Vessels, Makes 3 Undisputed Appointments

W300

The cabinet on Wednesday agreed to lease power-generating vessels for a period of two years -- renewable for one year -- and stipulated a new invitation for tenders.

The cabinet also approved three uncontroversial administrative appointments and was inclined to postpone the discussion of the thorny issue of financial auditing for the years 2006 to 2010.

It appointed three new directors general: Antoine Jebran as head of the HR department at the Civil Service Council, Nathalie Yared as head of the council's research and orientation department and Mona Awwad as head of ministerial affairs at the premiership, MTV reported.

“At the beginning of the session, (Energy Minister Jebran) Bassil said the issue of electricity must be the first topic of discussion, but (President Michel) Suleiman and (Premier Najib) Miqati rejected that, prompting Bassil to say that he fears a postponement. However, Suleiman reassured him that the issue will be discussed, even if that required extending the session till dawn,” NBN television said.

Ministerial sources told NBN that “there is need for both power-generating vessels and power plants,” adding that “maybe in the upcoming days a solution will be reached, but today the cabinet will not be able to reach any solution.”

On his way out of the session, Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi told reporters: “I don’t know the reason behind Miqati’s decision to back down from his previous stance on the issue of electricity.”

The session was preceded by a closed-door meeting between Suleiman and Miqati.

“Intentions are good and there is a dire need for (power-generating) vessels in order to provide electricity as part of an interim plan to cover up for the shortage in power, and building the power plants is something axiomatic,” Culture Minister Gaby Layyoun said ahead of the session.

For his part, Bassil warned against “turning the issue of electricity into another ‘false witnesses’ issue.”

And Agriculture Minister Hussein Hajj Hassan said “the issue of electricity can be resolved,” saying Hizbullah backs its ally, the Free Patriotic Movement, in the standoff.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 15
Thumb kesrweneh almost 12 years

Mabrouk we'll watch most of Euro 2012 despite of the "moteur man" mood

Default-user-icon Enough (Guest) almost 12 years

The merry-go-round... Where it stops nobody knows.

Default-user-icon May7 (Guest) almost 12 years

Hard to pick as your both bootlickers and support the non payers of electricity party

Default-user-icon Le Phenicien (Guest) almost 12 years

kesrweneh , FlameThrower when this plan backfires who are we going to blame ? /

Thumb kesrweneh almost 12 years

hehehe just like Mr.Geagea u can see the future. why would it backfire?

Thumb geha almost 12 years

maybe you are not, but you are both follwers of the syro/iranians.

Thumb kesrweneh almost 12 years

ouuuuh someone is angraaay

Thumb geha almost 12 years

no way: all your comments show that you are traitors to lebanon :)

Missing youssefhaddad almost 12 years

Pocket lining continues while the Lebanese still worship those who are exploiting them!

Default-user-icon gabby (Guest) almost 12 years

Is Hezzbollah going to pay for the vessels since they take power from everyone else for free?

Missing ulpianus almost 12 years

Guys. you are amazing. Still discussing who takes orders from who.
Be happy about that something seems to happen now. They are inviting tenders again!

Thumb kesrweneh almost 12 years

100%

Default-user-icon John Williams (Guest) almost 12 years

Your computers won't work nor will Miqati telecom business without electricity. Perhaps he recognized that Lebanon's potential electrical generation would not match demand until more electrical generation plants could be constructed and therefore it was his responsibility as the head of Lebanon's government to accede to the fact that Lebanon had to purchase (lease) more generating capacity. BUT THAT WOULD JUST BE A WILD GUESS.

Thumb kesrweneh almost 12 years

hahah yeah loved it too!we probably come from the same background!you know: syedeh 7oryee 2este2lel!!

Default-user-icon Guest (Guest) almost 12 years

hahaha and do you really believe you will get enough hours per day of "gov't" provided electricity? Keep on dreaming guys! There is absolutely no way this is gonna happen since most generators are owned by none other than the gov't's people men (zelmet hayda w zelmet haydak). I am not pointing to ANY specific political party, they all are equally culpable and all suck and we will never see the electricity as we should ever.