Jordan on Thursday hosted a ministerial meeting for ministers concerned in electricity affairs in the Kingdom , Syria and Lebanon, to discuss the latest developments in the project to supply Lebanon with part of its electricity needs from Jordan through the Syrian electric grid.
The meeting was attended by Jordan’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Saleh Kharabsheh, Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water, Dr. Walid Fayyad, and Syrian Minister of Electricity, Ghassan Zamil.
Kharabsheh, speaking at a press conference following the meeting, said the three countries have reached the final version of the contract to supply Lebanon with Jordan’s electricity through Syrian territory, stressing the readiness of the Kingdom’s electric grid to transfer electricity.
Electricity quantities to be delivered to Lebanon were the most prominent issue that was agreed upon between the three countries, Kharabsheh said, adding that the amount to be supplied Lebanon will nearly stand at 150 megawatts of electricity from midnight until six a.m and 250 megawatts during the remaining periods.
In response to a question, Kharabsheh referred to technical issues on the Syrian grid that are being solved and will be completed before the end of 2021, adding that the process of supplying Lebanon with electricity is expected to begin early 2022.
For his part, the Lebanese minister said the agreement would contribute to achieving and sustaining Lebanon’s energy security, adding that environmentally and financially “appropriate” formula and conditions related to cost of delivering Jordan’s electricity to Lebanon had been reached.
The Lebanese official affirmed approval of the World Bank to fund the project to supply Lebanon with Jordan’s electricity.
In turn, Syrian minister said his country is “serious” about rehabilitation of its electrical interconnection grid with Jordan, adding that this process has begun at a cost of $5.5 million.
Syria will not be a “stumbling” block in the face of this agreement, he said, adding that Syrian grid will be ready to launch the electric transmission project by the end of 2021, the Syrian minister said.
Source: Jordan News Agency