Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayyad revealed that “the headline of the first phase of the electricity plan that he presented to the cabinet is to increase power supply to 8-10 hours by extracting gas from Egypt and electricity from Jordan at the best prices,” explaining that “gas is cheaper than fuel oil, though which today’s power plants operate.”
Fayyad confirmed, during in an interview with “LBCI Channel” this morning, that “the implementation of the first phase of the plan will begin upcoming spring, as the final copy of contracts on Egyptian gas will be duly signed.”
“Obtaining financing from the International Monetary Fund is linked to obtaining exemptions and making sure that the money provided will not be wasted,” Fayyad explained.
He stressed that “the plan will positively affect the Lebanese,” noting that “the first phase is practical and technical, and far from political polemic,” noting that “a large part of the financing of the electricity plan depends on the private sector.”
The Minister of Energy explained that “today, Lebanon gets 3 hours of electricity, secured by Iraqi fuel at a cost of 70 million dollars per month, and we will reach 17 hours of electricity by the year 2023.”
As for the second phase of the electricity plan, Fayyad referred to “operating the Deir Ammar and Al-Zahrani plants on gas instead of fuel via the Arab Gas Pipeline,” adding that “the third phase consists of securing a necessary ground for establishing new power plants and stopping the Zouk plant due to its negative impact on the economy and the environment.”
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon