Jordan to export electricity to Lebanon from next month

Jordan is to start exporting electricity to Lebanon from next month, Minister of Energy Saleh Al-Kharabsheh has announced. A funding agreement with the World Bank has been finalised, he explained during the Egypt Petroleum Conference in Cairo.

Lebanon signed two agreements on 28 January to import electricity from Jordan through Syria in an effort to alleviate the country’s energy crisis. The first agreement is to provide Lebanon with 250 megawatts while the second was signed with the Syrian regime to use its network for the electricity bound for its coastal neighbour.

The demand for electricity in Lebanon is estimated at more than 3,000 megawatts. It has been suffering for years from being unable to match supply with demand. The crisis has escalated in recent months due to fuel shortages following the country’s economic meltdown. There is a serious lack of foreign exchange needed to import fuel and other basic commodities.

Lebanon has no centrally generated electricity after fuel shortages forced its two largest power stations to shut down – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/Middle East Monitor]

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