Energy Minister Walid Fayyad is presently in France. (Credit: DR)
BEIRUT — The French diplomat in charge of coordinating international support to Lebanon, Pierre Duquesne, assured Thursday that “France will support the Lebanese file with the World Bank regarding the import of Egyptian gas and Jordanian electricity,” an initiative aimed at easing the severe shortage of electricity in the country.
Here’s what we know:
• Back in Paris after a three-day visit to Beirut, Duquesne met with Lebanese Energy Minister Walid Fayyad, who is presently in France. According to Fayad’s press office, the diplomat told the energy minister that his country “will support the Lebanese file with the World Bank regarding the import of Egyptian gas and Jordanian electricity.” Fayyad’s press office added that Duquesne gave a “positive impression,” which it attributed to “progress felt during Duquesne’s visit to Beirut, especially regarding negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and reforms in many sectors.”
• Lebanon’s socio-economic and financial collapse, which has been ongoing for more than two years, has further aggravated electricity rationing, which is now limited to a few hours per day. To address this situation, an agreement was reached in the summer between Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Jordan to supply the country with gas and electricity. This initiative was sponsored by the United States.
• During his visit to Beirut earlier this week, Duquesne called on the Lebanese authorities to sign an agreement with the IMF before the legislative elections scheduled for the spring of 2022, believing that such an agreement represents “the last hope for Lebanon.”