Caretaker Energy Minister Raymond Ghajar arrived at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut this evening, returning from Iraq, after he signed an agreement with the Iraqi government to import one million tons of Iraqi oil.

Ghajar and the Director General of Public Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, went to Baghdad yesterday, accompanied by a delegation from the Water and Energy Ministry to sign the agreement.

In a press conference held upon his arrival at the airport, Ghajar gave an overview of the agreement with the Iraqi government. He thanked the Iraqi state, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi and all the sides that exerted huge efforts during the past three months so as to reach the signed agreement, namely to purchase one million tons of heavy fuel from the State of Iraq for the Lebanese Electricity Corporation.

He added, “Of course, this would not have happened without the tremendous efforts of Major General Abbas Ibrahim and our entire team, whether in the Ministry of Energy or the General Directorate of Oil and the three Presidents.”

Ghajar pointed out that this agreement “includes the import and purchase of one million tons of heavy fuel for the benefit of Electricité du Liban for a period of one year, and according to the prices set by the Iraqi side.” He continued to explain that this fuel cannot be used in Lebanon, since its specifications are different from the one used in Lebanese factories. “What will happen is that we will successively, as needed, bid for the purchase of fuel through Spot Cargo for Electricité du Liban and for the private sector, i.e. for oil facilities, and these bids will take place according to a premium for each company. But the difference is that instead of paying through the Banque du Liban, we will ask them to exchange the oil they are going to provide us with the Iraqi oil,” Ghajar said.

Referring to the extent of power supply that can be provided, the Minister explained that it can be given for a period of four months and according to demand, noting that situation changes between summer and winter, i.e. nine hours of power supply can be provided during summertime and fourteen hours during wintertime.

In response to a question, Ghajar said: “We want the interest of the Lebanese state and the Lebanese people, and we did not go east or west, and if an offer comes to us like Iraq’s, we would respond in a positive way, because in the case of the Iraqi offer, we take fuel in exchange for services,” adding that “Iraqi oil has value because it is one of the world’s second largest oil exporters.”

Over the efforts of Major General Abbas Ibrahim, Ghajar said: “Major General Ibrahim has very good relations, and the Iraqi government trusts him, and he is familiar with all the details and he has opened all doors for us. Our effort was minor, and the credit goes to Major General Abbas Ibrahim.”

Finally, the Caretaker Minister hoped that the brotherly Arab countries would “follow the example of the State of Iraq and accord us an opportunity like Iraq, for it is a golden opportunity for us.”

Source: National News Agency