LF Denies al-Akhbar Report on Electricity File, Says 'Will Press Charges'
The Lebanese Forces denied on Saturday media report alleging that the party seeks to be part of a coalition aspiring to obtain a special license to produce electricity in the northern city of Jbeil (Byblos), after the government approved a plan to lease Turkish generating vessels for Lebanon's plagued electricity sector.
“The LF categorically denies a report published in al-Akhbar daily claiming that sharp rhetoric led, by (LF) Health Minister Ghassan Hasbani, about the power generating vessels was caused by the LF and Kataeb's intention of joining a coalition to obtain a special license to produce electricity in the city of Byblos,” an LF statement said.
The statement added that it's strange “how amendments proposed by Hasbani on behalf of the LF were faced with rumors to mislead the public opinion and divert the attention from the LF purpose to save the state at least one billion dollars, accelerate implementation and ensure transparency and environmental conditions.”
"Our reform battle will not be influenced by rumors,” pointing out that it will “press charges against the daily and all parties found to be involved in fabricating false news,” it added.
Al-Akhbar daily on Saturday reported: “Sources were surprised by the onset launched by Hasbani, inside and outside the cabinet, on the energy vessels. They linked the issue to the LF and Kataeb intention to be part of a private coalition to produce electricity in Jbeil, which was rejected by the Energy Ministry for some time.”
During a cabinet meeting on Friday, LF ministers urged the cabinet to consider options to improve Lebanon's power supply other than leasing energy vessels as proposed by Free Patriotic Movement Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil and approved by the cabinet earlier.
The LF have also demanded an amendment to the book of conditions related to the electricity file which was rejected as well.
LF sources said after Friday's cabinet meeting that dismissing their suggestion “indicates that the book of conditions is tailored to the Turkish ships without taking regard to the technical, environmental and financial specifications in line with the priorities of the state.
"This has cut the way for a reform plan that would have saved the state an equivalent of one billion dollars.”
Source: Naharnet
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