Energy ministers from Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon met in Amman last week to discuss a strategy to address Lebanon’s energy challenges. The four Arab countries put together a joint action plan in which Egyptian natural gas and/or Jordanian electricity will be transported to Lebanon with the aim of putting an end to the country’s ongoing energy crisis.
Despite the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2000 and the completion of project infrastructure in 2005 for the transport of natural gas to Lebanon, socio-political challenges resulted in the damage to infrastructure and the disruption of supply. Accordingly, the meeting established an effective infrastructure rehabilitation plan with each country agreeing to cover the necessary costs. Over the next three weeks, the four Arab countries will review their agreements and infrastructure evaluations, with another meeting planned thereafter.
“This is what was agreed: the technical team checked the infrastructure’s integration with other Arab teams so that the transport of gas is a fait accompli,” stated H.E. Bassam Touma, Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources of Syria.
“Another meeting will be held soon to develop an action plan with Lebanon and Syria to prepare agreements and review the infrastructure that has been damaged in the past. We need time to have the infrastructure ready,” stated H.E. Hala Zawati, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jordan.