AMMAN — Energy
expert Hashem Akel said that Jordan will enjoy good benefits from selling
electricity to Lebanon, clarifying that Jordan does not bear certain costs in
the process as the supply will be made directly from the transmission lines;
eliminating such expenses as storage, distribution, and maintenance of
electricity transmission lines, according to Al-Rai
اضافة اعلان
He pointed out that the
cost of producing electricity depends on several factors, including the cost of
the energy source used in its production — i.e. gas, heavy fuel oil, coal,
etc. — the capacity to generate
electricity, the cost of energy safety, and the cost of storing the produced
energy.
Akel said Lebanon would
be supplied with 400 megawatts of electricity once agreements were signed with
the Syrian and Lebanese sides separately but on the same day. The signing is scheduled
for Wednesday.
The expert pointed to the
statement of Lebanon’s energy minister that Lebanon has almost completed the
necessary requirements, attributing a delay to a problem at the Dar Ammar
station near Tripoli in northern Lebanon.
He said transit fees
inside the Syrian territory would not be paid in cash, but would be in-kind
allowance of 8 percent of the electricity coming into Lebanon.
Akel said all three sides
stand to benefit from the agreement. On the Jordanian side, the agreement
provides an opportunity for the National Electricity Power Company to generate
revenue through existing, unused electricity. The selling price will be
$0.97/kilowatt. Lebanon will be able to increase electricity supply hours, and
once Egyptian gas is supplied to the country, electricity supply would reach
10–12 hours daily. Syria will enjoy electricity load stability and prolong
supply.
With regard to bringing
Egyptian gas to Lebanon through the "Arabi line" through the
Jordanian and Syrian territories and with funding from the World Bank, Akel
explained that the pipeline from Egypt to the Jordanian-Syrian border is
operational and ready to transport Egyptian gas.
Syria has also carried
out all maintenance work for the line stretching to the Lebanese border through
its territory, except for a 32km stretch in Lebanese territory that, according
to Akel, still requires maintenance.
Lebanon will work on the
maintenance of pipes passing through its territory, which will be ready to receive
Egyptian gas by the end of February.
Akel pointed out that
Jordan will charge transit fees for Egyptian gas through its territory, and
Syria will take a percentage of the gas that will pass to Lebanon through its
territory.
He also made reference to
a "pledge" delivered by the US embassy in Beirut to the Lebanese
government stating that no party that enters into the gas and electricity
agreements will be subject to any form of US sanctions.
Read more Business
.jpg)
.jpg)
