Safadi: cabinet approved energy bill, update

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Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi told Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV on Wednesday that the cabinet approved the draft energy bill during today’s meeting.

“We approved the electricity bill… the funding, which is for $5 billion, was divided into four, annual stages,” Safadi said.

More details to follow as they become available

Update: Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Wednesday following the approval by the cabinet of the energy bill

“We approved the bill aiming to increase electricity by 700 Megawatts… the plan will be divided into four stages starting in 2011 and ending in 2014.”

“The cabinet asked me to contact Arab and international funding agencies to finance the project,” he added.

Mikati also said a supervising committee for the energy spending will be formed within three months, while a new administrative board for Electricite du Liban will be formed in two months.

The PM added that the Energy Ministry will oversee funding for the project in 2011, after which the cabinet will supervise spending for the remaining years of the plan.

Update 2 Compromise

The root of the compromise was the decision to allocate the budgeted funds – in four installments, rather than in one payment. The government also agreed to establish a regulatory authority to supervise the sector within three months.

Mikati said the government also decided to form within three months a ministerial committee, headed by him and including the finance, health, justice, social affairs, energy, works and economy ministers, to look at the introduction of amendments to Law 462.

Law 462, which outlines the regulatory norms for the administration and management of the electricity sector, requires the formation of a regulatory authority to supervise the sector.

The breakthrough reportedly came after intensive talks between President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun and officials from Hezbollah.

The discussions led to a compromise that was approved during a meeting between the prime minister, Energy Minister Jibran Bassil and Hezbollah official, Minister of State for Administrative Reform Mohammad Fneish.

Mikati said the government also agreed on the appointment of a board of directors for Electricite du Liban within two months, and to draw tenders from contractors for the construction of the project in line with applicable laws.

He added that the draft bill had yet to be discussed in Parliament where it will be subject to a vote. The bill would need an absolute majority to pass.

“Lebanon won today,” Mikati said when asked which party emerged victorious in the compromise over the electricity bill. “Any dispute or discussion is to reach one goal: to provide electricity to people,” he added.

Mikati said the plan was part of a long-term project to provide Lebanon with electricity 24 hours a day, and future governments would need to continue the project, which is expected to cost $5 billion.

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18 responses to “Safadi: cabinet approved energy bill, update”

  1. here we go, let the stealing begin

  2.  Avatar

    here we go, let the stealing begin

  3. 5thDrawer Avatar

    Nice how the 1.2 Billion ‘draft’ story ramps up to this one with 5 Billion … divided by 4 (which 4 guys?)  is 1.25 … only 50 million off the origional ‘one-time’ estimate … and still no ‘plan’ to be seen.
    I assume the 300 tonnes of gold is being dragged from the bank basements now … under Hezzy Guards of course.

  4. 5thDrawer Avatar

    Nice how the 1.2 Billion ‘draft’ story ramps up to this one with 5 Billion … divided by 4 (which 4 guys?)  is 1.25 … only 50 million off the origional ‘one-time’ estimate … and still no ‘plan’ to be seen.
    I assume the 300 tonnes of gold is being dragged from the bank basements now … under Hezzy Guards of course.

  5.  Avatar

    Nice how the 1.2 Billion ‘draft’ story ramps up to this one with 5 Billion … divided by 4 (which 4 guys?)  is 1.25 … only 50 million off the origional ‘one-time’ estimate … and still no ‘plan’ to be seen.
    I assume the 300 tonnes of gold is being dragged from the bank basements now … under Hezzy Guards of course.

  6. antar2011 Avatar

    a bunch of thieves disagreeing on who gets the biggest share. now they have agreed that Bassiloooooo will get the biggest share…suprise suprise!

    i am just disgusted that Aounist actually look up to this thief….boy they are going to be disappointed in the same way they were when Aoun the coward ran away leaving everything [except money] and way to France.

  7. antar2011 Avatar

    a bunch of thieves disagreeing on who gets the biggest share. now they have agreed that Bassiloooooo will get the biggest share…suprise suprise!

    i am just disgusted that Aounist actually look up to this thief….boy they are going to be disappointed in the same way they were when Aoun the coward ran away leaving everything [except money] and way to France.

  8.  Avatar

    a bunch of thieves disagreeing on who gets the biggest share. now they have agreed that Bassiloooooo will get the biggest share…suprise suprise!

    i am just disgusted that Aounist actually look up to this thief….boy they are going to be disappointed in the same way they were when Aoun the coward ran away leaving everything [except money] and way to France.

  9.  Avatar

    a bunch of thieves disagreeing on who gets the biggest share. now they have agreed that Bassiloooooo will get the biggest share…suprise suprise!

    i am just disgusted that Aounist actually look up to this thief….boy they are going to be disappointed in the same way they were when Aoun the coward ran away leaving everything [except money] and way to France.

  10. Now I can move back to administer the 1.2 billion approved …:) Aounist are first in line and the rest will get some if there are any wires left …:) Just kidding. If done right, It will zoom Lebanon into the 21 century.

  11.  Avatar

    Now I can move back to administer the 1.2 billion approved …:) Aounist are the first in line and the rest will get some if there are any wires left …:) Just kidding. I think will zoom Lebanon into the 21 century.

  12. Aoun, Lebanon will always thank you for your efforts. God bless.

  13.  Avatar

    Aoun, Lebanon will always thank you for your efforts. God bless.

  14. Aoun, Determination is your middle name TIGER. Now tells us, did you have to use the whip? 

  15.  Avatar

    Aoun, Determination is your middle name TIGER. Now tells us, did you have to use the whip? 

  16. 5thDrawer Avatar

    ” international funding agencies ” …. hmmm … Do they like the UN for something after all??

  17.  Avatar

    ” international funding agencies ” …. hmmm … Do they like the UN for something after all??

  18.  Avatar

    ” international funding agencies ” …. hmmm … Do they like the UN for something after all??

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