Miqati Praises Cabinet Session, Says Electricity Decisions Averted a Crisis

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Prime Minister Najib Miqati hailed on Thursday the cabinet session that was held at the Baabda Palace, saying that it was able to avert a crisis over a dispute on the power-generating vessels.

“We’ve stressed that we want to provide Lebanon with electricity and simultaneously preserve the public money,” Miqati said in comments published in An Nahar.

The cabinet agreed Wednesday to lease the power vessels for a maximum of three years to produce 270 megawatts and to construct power plants of 1,500-megawatt capacity.

The decision helped avert a crisis among the cabinet members as PM Miqati and Energy Minister Jebran Bassil each insisted on a project they had suggested.

Miqati noted that the cabinet will negotiate with the two companies that won the tenders, an American and a Turkish company, to lower the cost of the leasing.

The premier hailed the cabinet’s decision on leasing the power-generating vessels and concurrently the building of new power plants.

However, the PM said that the vessels might not start working before the end of the summer, ruling out the increase of power cuts as the rehabilitation of the current power plants will be in the fall.

“If we failed to reach an agreement (with the two companies) then we’ll re-launch tenders as we’re not obliged by the time factor anymore and the rehabilitation of Jiyeh and Zouk power plants will be postponed until the end of the summer,” Miqati stated.

Lebanon has long suffered from electricity outages because of shortages at its power plants whose maximum capacity is less than 1,500 megawatts but the country’s actual need exceeds 2,300 megawatts.

Comments 3
Thumb jcamerican almost 12 years

I guess the government here to stay. Geagea will be disappointed.

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

Mabrouk ya Lebnan and to the Minister. Well done. About time someone think for all Lebanese!

Missing ulpianus almost 12 years

Well if they really do this, we cannot say anything else than good, good, good good good. We eli byesma3 kelmet papi sho men2elo?