Electricity Crisis Lingering Amid Lack of Consensus on Power-Generating Vessels
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
A meeting headed by Prime Minister Najib Miqati at the Grand Serail for the ministerial committee tasked with finding a solution to Lebanon's prolonged electricity crisis failed to reach a decisive decision concerning the leasing of power-generating ships, local newspapers reported on Tuesday.
The meeting revealed the sharp differences between Miqati and Energy Minister Jebran Bassil on the two offers by a Turkish and an American company that won the tenders.
Sources told An Nahar newspaper that the premier considered the $450 million cost of the project, which extends over 5 years, is very high as it doesn’t provide the country with additional megawatts but it comes as a substitute for the Zouk and Jiyyeh power plants that will undergo rehabilitation.
The sources stated that Miqati seemed unconvinced by the project and its “usefulness.”
According to the daily, the meeting of the committee was postponed until Thursday.
The energy minister’s sources expressed dissatisfaction with Miqati’s behavior, arguing that the current energy expenses reach around $1.08 billion.
“The premier didn’t reject the power-generating vessels project but he didn’t either make a new suggestion… Frankly, I didn’t understand what the PM wants,” Bassil said.
As Safir newspaper reported that Miqati is seeking to build an additional power plant “swiftly.”
“Miqati informed the committee members that he had an offer from a third company, but he will not discuss it as he has personal ties with the owner,” a minister told the daily.
Al-Liwaa newspaper said that a dispute between Bassil and the committee members emerged to the surface over the mechanism of the tenders and their transparency.
“We either want to produce electricity or turn off the state’s motors and stop the production,” Bassil told An Nahar.
Lebanon’s lingering electricity crisis has become a burden on citizens after shortages at its power plants whose maximum capacity is less than 1,500 megawatts.
The country’s actual need exceeds 2,300 megawatts.
20 March 2012, 10:02
00
I dont understand why those power ships cannot supply the whole deficit.
i.e: 1000 megawatts.
why do we need ships to give us only what we have now ? is this logical?
20 March 2012, 10:22
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anyone following up on this delicate issue knows the reason behind the delay is splitting of the kickbacks which amounts to millions of dollars!
20 March 2012, 10:29
01
14 hours ago MTV: The panel tasked with studying the issue of power-generating ships has not reached an agreement over any offer and the premier has proposed an offer that is lower in cost than that proposed by the energy minister.
20 March 2012, 12:52
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Flame thrower who one day will become electricity payer
For someone who supports a non paying electricity party and who doesnot pay for their own electricity.
You sure know a lot about the topic
20 March 2012, 12:58
22
and during the summer, we shall have less ON hours, because Mikati doesn't have a viable solution for EDL, and is also not convinced by Bassils plan. bottom line Mikati sabotages EDL and we the people pay for it
20 March 2012, 15:12
11
They should spend $450 on building hydro electric water power systems and solar panels. not on renting boats.
20 March 2012, 15:36
13
This is the most ridiculous problem that Lebanon has.
Electricity consumption and production is the most predictable commodity in the world. It is the easiest to forecast how much power generation is needed, and how much it will cost to generate it. And it is the easiest form of product to bill.
Yet polititians in Lebanon have for over 2 decades simce 1990 haven't done anything to resolve it.
Never mind going green with renewal Wind, Solar, or Hydro power - that is too much to ask, and goes against their mafiosi oil interests.
20 March 2012, 15:45
00
Prime suspect this is part of the investment into a durable and long term electricity project for the Lebanese, this will only provide the already little electricity that two of our obsolete power plants are already providing, as to not have any further electricity cuts while they are being refurbished and revamped into a modern day power generating plant.
I really find it very amusing how every person that has no idea about what is happening in our godforsaken feels the urge to leave a comment on a topic he/she has no clue about, just for the sake of making the party he/she does not "follow" (as support is not a word that can be used in Lebanese politics) look like the bad people.
20 March 2012, 15:46
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The Lebanese population needs to wake up anymore, we have been deprived of our natural rights by our politicians for too long, and as it seems to me we have gotten used to being treated as inferiors by our politicians, we are an audience that does no more than clap to everything we hear, we have been blinded just as they blind horses to see in only one direction.
We have given the old regime too many chances all the way up until 2011 and we have seen nothing from them other than $60 Billion in deficit and we don't even have the basic infrastructure that people need.
20 March 2012, 15:46
00
We take to the streets for the Syrian revolution, but when it comes to our lively hood we rather stay at home and cry on our own, because the politician we follow says otherwise. Go take a look at their accounts ask the people that you vote for and follow blindly to expose the amounts they hold in their accounts, and then you'll know why Clemenceau, Maarab, Center house, and many others were possible.
Wake up people get rid of those horse blinds.
20 March 2012, 17:23
02
They don't want to solve this problem it's a big cash cow. For 40+ years now we have had this power problem. Granted 15 years are war years. But what grid in lebanon actually works? Power-no water-no transport-no etc......... Screw this M8 gov, and m14 is not tge answer!!! We must replace them with only 40 MP's and 12 ministers. They must have a university education and never been in politics before. Just professionals in their fields. If you are building a company you will hire the best trained/educated person for that position, we need to do that as well.
20 March 2012, 17:39
00
are you kidding me ? what kind of country we are living in ? this government has been talking about electricity since it came to power and nothing has happened , as a matter of fact it has gotten worse . this is a basic need and it is the job of any government to provide the basic for it.s people . this government is so useless and has failed so bad to the point that they have no clue on how to provide the basic needs . in a country like Lebanon of course it is about kickbacks and money it always has and it always will be and the hell with people ... what a disgrace ?
20 March 2012, 21:00
00
This legislature is almost done... Wait for 2013. If not consensus can be achieved... The we should look to privatize this sector. Personally, as I said it before, I'd appreciate a Governement of technocrats much more than m14/8 whom just enjoy filling up their pockets with (our) money. With Technocrats in power, things would get done and nobody could veto their decisions unless both sides agree on 1 veto.
21 March 2012, 04:43
00
start by collecting electricity bills form hizbollah s thugs bil mosata7 el amne
21 March 2012, 07:27
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flims do u really believe what you wrote?
who has been in charge if the ministry the last 20 years?
Who are they the ppl who never pays electricity bills?
