Bassil: We Can End Electricity Crisis by Leasing Power-Generating Ships, Constructing New Plants
Energy Minister Jebran Bassil rejected on Tuesday the abandonment of his proposal to lease power-generating ships in order to end Lebanon’s electricity crisis, saying that such a measure would lead to a “catastrophe” in Lebanon.
The minister said during a press conference after the Change and Reform bloc’s weekly meeting: “A solution, which we think is logical and fair, lies in leasing the vessels and constructing new power plants.”
“The ships are not a permanent solution, but a temporary one and they are necessary given the current deadlock,” he added.
“We are not challenging anyone because electricity belongs to all the Lebanese,” he continued.
He explained that he had conducted the necessary studies and presented the needed reports regarding the power-generating ships, but his efforts were met with objections from within the government.
“I responded by saying that I am only concerned with the best proposal to end the crisis,” said the energy minister.
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 Prime Minister Najib Miqati has openly opposed the project, advocating instead a proposal by the GE company to construct a power plant at the cost of $500 million.
“We received a report from Miqati on the GE proposal. He is entitled to make a position on the matter and I believe him as he is a man of institutions,” said Bassil.
“Several fatal mistakes were committed in the premier’s report however and I had hoped that he would avoid them,” he noted.
Leasing power-generating vessels would save the country $130 million a year and if merging their power to the electrical grid would save the citizens $400 million, he revealed.
“We are in need of the ships at all times of the year and not just during the summer,” he continued.
“I don’t see a reason why we shouldn’t reach an agreement on the matter at cabinet. I don’t mind subjecting it to a vote,” he declared.
“Don’t we have the right to have electricity? Why is it that a project is always thwarted when we have already made most of the efforts?” he asked.
“We are heading towards a crisis and we have been speaking of this for years,” he stated.
“Why should each project be thwarted? Why do we do this to the Lebanese? Why should one company and one person be victorious against the people? We demand the truth. Abandoning the power-generating ships is out of the question as doing so will cause a disaster,” he stressed.
Furthermore, he revealed that funding is not a problem because companies have voiced their readiness to help Lebanon because they know that resolving the electricity crisis will ease economic problems.
Asked if the government would resign over the electricity dispute, Bassil responded: “Do you think we will remain in government open-endedly without being productive?”
He added however: “We will remain in government until further notice.”
Prior to Bassil’s conference, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun had held a press conference after the Change and Reform bloc’s weekly meeting, stating that Lebanon refuses to target Syria’s security.
He said: “The actions of some parties in Lebanon contradict Arab League articles that demand that the regimes of Arab countries be respected.”
In addition, he noted that Lebanon’s national pact outlines the ties between Lebanon and Syria, “while maintaining their fraternal nature.”
“I would like to remind the Lebanese government and officials in the Foreign Ministry of the need to respect other countries in accordance with the Arab League charter,” said the MP.
Source: Naharnet
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