Energy Ministry to Launch Tenders of 700 Megawatts Project in May
The Ministry of Energy revealed on Saturday the launching of the 700 megawatts project tenders for producing more electricity in May, the National News Agency reported.
The project aims at producing additional electricity in Zouk, Jiyeh and Deir Ammar power plants, after the World Bank approved the project that meets “the international standards and requirements.”
The ministry will launch the tenders on May 14 and 28, the NNA said.
The cabinet approved in September a $1.2 billion plan to generate 700 Megawatts of electricity, including the leasing of the ships as a short-term solution.
However, the power-generating ships have been a point of contention as media reports said that Prime Minister Najib Miqati is seeking to reject this decision.
Miqati stated that the decision hasn’t been taken yet, saying that it all depends on the committee tasked with finding a solution to Lebanon's electricity sector.
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.
Media reports said that Iran also offered to provide Lebanon with 25 megawatts of power starting April, which would reach 100 megawatts in September, if the two sides agreed.
Energy Minister Jebran Bassil argued that the agreement was adopted by the government led by PM Saad Hariri in 2010, but it wasn’t issued.
He denied that the deal with Iran seeks to provide Lebanon with electricity. “The media exaggerated the deal with Iran as the agreement states that Lebanon welcomes an agreement with Tehran to fund Lebanon with $450 million to help it rehabilitate its electricity sector.”
In February, Iran said that it will supply Lebanon, Syria and Iraq with 1,300 megawatts of electricity within a couple of months, whereby Iraq would get 1,000 megawatts while Syria and Lebanon would share the remaining amount.
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