Bassil: We'll Topple Govt. if It Doesn’t Implement Electricity Plan
Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil on Thursday warned that the country will suffer “governmental and parliamentary paralysis if the dispute over the electricity plan is not solved,” noting that “the issue can be resolved in cabinet.”
“We will topple any government that does not want to implement the plan,” Bassil vowed.
At a press conference he held to discuss his plan, the minister noted that “the electricity plan, with all of its technical and financial aspects, is clear, but it is facing political disapproval,” wondering “whether the (parliamentary) minority has sympathizers in the government.”
Despite holding four sessions to discuss Bassil’s plan, the government has failed to reach a final agreement on the project, under which $1.2 billion would be earmarked to build plants that would produce 700 Megawatts of electricity.
Bassil warned that failure to adopt the plan would “deprive people of seven hours of power supply daily and the treasury of $460 million,” noting that “the demand for electricity is on the rise and the problem is aggravating every year.”
“Blackouts could last for 15-16 hours daily in summer 2013 if the electricity plan was not adopted, Bassil said, adding that “we’re not asking for extraordinary powers, we’re just saying ‘implement the law’ and those who want to deprive the minister of some of his powers must first amend the constitution.”
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