Turkish Power Ship Docks in Zouk after Rejection in Jiye, Zahrani
Turkish power generating ship Esra Sultan docked Monday in the Zouk Mosbeh area after its presence in Jiye and Zahrani was rejected by residents and political forces over environmental and economic concerns.
The ship, which docked off the Zouk power plant, will begin producing electricity by Thursday morning at the latest according to media reports. It will provide the Keserwan district and parts of the Jbeil and Northern Metn districts with around 100-120 megawatts, which would lead to a 22-24 hour power supply, whereas in Jiye it would have only provided around 40 megawatts, the reports said.
The ship had left the Jiye area after its presence was rejected by the Progressive Socialist Party and the area's residents. It later failed to sail south towards al-Zahrani after protests organized by the AMAL Movement.
The Energy Ministry later decided to send it to Zouk.
Caretaker Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, who had taken part in a protest outside the al-Zahrani power plant alongside MPs from the Development and Liberation bloc, has stressed that the AMAL Movement rejects the policy of renting power ships.
He has argued that this policy has prevented a sustainable solution for the country's chronic power generation crisis.
Lebanon has been renting two other Turkish power ships – the Fatmagul Sultan and the Orhan Bey – for several years now.
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