Miqati to Up Daily Power Supply, Make Long-Term Energy Reforms

Prime Minister Najib Miqati is working on short- and long-term plans to tackle the energy crisis, al-Liwaa newspaper said.

Political sources told the newspaper, in remarks published Wednesday, that Miqati is working with the minister of energy to prevent a total collapse in the sector.

The sources pointed out that Miqati’s short-term plan is to work immediately on increasing the daily hours of power supply by 8-10 hours, within a few weeks.

“Miqati is planning to fast-track the importation of Egytian gas to the Deir Amar Power Plant,” the sources said.

“There is a possibility to augment the quantities of imported gas in order to raise the power production at the Deir Amar plant to its highest possible level.”

The sources added that Miqati is planning to “secure quantities of Egyptian or imported fuel to re-operate the Zouk and al-Zahrani power plants and increase their power production.”

There is also a long-term plan to revive the sector entirely, based on the French initiative.

The plan requires making reforms from “appointing a new regulatory body and a new board of directors,” to “building new plants and regulating and modernizing the distribution and the collection.”

The reforms in the sector will be financed “from expected Arab and international donations and loans,” the sources said.

The energy file was discussed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s meeting with Miqati, and a French delegation is following up on the topic.

The plan is being studied with French and German companies to find one or more companies that will carry out the implementation of the plan, the sources added.