Miqati to Present Cabinet with U.S. Offer to Generate Power in Lebanon
Prime Minister Najib Miqati is expected to present a report on the leasing of power-generating vessels before cabinet on Wednesday, as well as a proposal presented to him by an American company to produce power in Lebanon, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.
Informed sources told the daily that the premier received a proposal from General Electric that includes its construction of a power plant, worth 500 megawatts and at the cost of $450 million.
The project will take a year to be complete.
The leasing of power-generating ships will cost $460 million, not including fuel, and the rent period will last five years.
The sources said that Miqati will request that cabinet reconsider the power offers given the new development and ahead of taking a decision on the matter that would take into consideration Lebanon’s financial capabilities.
An Nahar added that the Iranian offer to instantly provide Lebanon with 250 megawatts through Iraq and Syria or Turkey and Syria still stands.
The Lebanese power grid cannot currently withstand more than 250 megawatts, but there are plans to rehabilitate it in order for it to be able to support 500 megawatts.
There are also plans to construct two power plants, one in the North and another in the South, both of which would be able to generate 500 megawatts therefore providing Lebanon’s daily needs.
Energy Minister Jebran Bassil is pushing for the leasing of power-generating vessels. Two companies, Turkish and American, have already won the tenders and are expected to cost the treasury over $1 billion - around $400 million for the rent and $500 million for fuel prices.
But the premier has openly opposed the project. He told As Safir that he would refer to the government a report that includes his vision on how to solve the power crisis.
“Let the cabinet assume its responsibility in taking the appropriate decision after all opinions are heard,” Miqati said. “I won’t impose my opinion on anyone.”
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