Lebanon set to be linked to regional electricity
grid
Copyright (c) 2005 The Daily Star
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
By Bechir Saade
Daily Star staff
BEIRUT: Lebanon will be linked to
the regional electricity grid that includes Egypt,
Jordan, Syria and Turkey as of the beginning of
next year, reducing its electricity bill. This was
among the decisions taken during a visit made by
Lebanese Energy Minister Mohammad Fneish to his
counterpart Hassan Younes in Egypt. Syria, Egypt
and Jordan inaugurated a $300 million electricity
line linking the grids of the three countries early
in 2001. Lebanese, Iraqi and Turkish officials were
at the launching ceremony and expressed their desire
to be connected to the grid.
"Once connected
to the network, the Lebanese will be able to get
the best rates from the different electricity regional
producers," said energy expert and former consultant
to the Energy Ministry Roudi Baroudi, adding that
getting on the grid would require increasing the
capacity of Ksar and Anjar's substation. "This is
already being done."
The electricity
grid linkage project also involves the joining of
Libya, Iraq and Turkey.
Lebanon and
Egypt agreed to create a joint company which will
provide with investment opportunities in both countries'
electricity sectors.
Egypt offered
its technical expertise in issues related to electricity
management, getting involved in Lebanese energy
projects, training of technicians, and providing
sufficient consultancy groups for the Energy Ministry.
Recently, Syria
agreed to supply Lebanon with around 120 megawatts
of electricity from Tartous' power substation to
Deir Nabouh and from Dimas (west of Damascus) to
Anjar saving $0.08 per kilowatt hour. This will
help Beirut lower its huge losses deriving from
inefficient local power plant operations. During
his visit to Egypt, Fneish said he was "in a hurry
to see this agreement implemented."
Lebanon has
been struggling to cope with price increases in
oil and oil derivatives by approaching various Arab
countries to seek agreements that could potentially
reduce its energy bills.
