PSP Scores Victory in Electricity Crisis but Awaits FPM’s Cooperation
The Progressive Socialist Party unveiled on Tuesday that most of its requests to amend several articles in the controversial electricity project were met during a ministerial meeting held at the Grand Serail the day before.
PSP official Minister Ghazi Aridi told As Safir newspaper that major achievements were made. “We could say that we made good progress with the hopes of reaching a serious understanding through cooperation and good will from all sides.”
The cabinet has so far failed to approve the project proposed by Free Patriotic Movement official Energy Minister Jebran Bassil. The draft law calls for allocating $1.2 billion to Bassil to generate 700 Megawatts of electricity.
The minister, who boycotted the ministerial meeting, warned of the potential for government paralysis if his plan is approved with amendments.
However, al-Liwaa daily quoted ministers loyal to PSP leader Walid Jumblat as saying that if the FPM cooperated with the proposed solution, the electricity plan would move the country forward.
They unveiled that the ministers meeting at the Grand Serail approved most of the changes that the PSP was demanding for including the formation of the electricity regulatory authority and governmental control on the implementation of the project.
Media reports said Tuesday that a decision was reached at the ministerial meeting to fund the first stage of the project from the state treasury and later resort to Arab funds to cover the remaining expenses.
Other decisions include the amendment of law 462 that regulates the electricity sector, the formation of the regulatory authority and tasking the tenders department to oversee the subcontracting process.
Meanwhile, Jumblat reiterated on Tuesday that the PSP’s remarks on the electricity project were only technical and administrative and had no political motive.
He hoped in remarks to As Safir that a final solution to the power crisis would be reached soon.
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