Electricity Panel Holds Another 'Positive' Meeting as Ships Option Dropped
The ministerial panel tasked with studying a plan to end the country's chronic electricity problem held a “very position” meeting on Tuesday, Information Minister Jamal al-Jarrah said, confirming that the option of renting power generating ships to cover the current production deficit is no longer on the table.
Energy Minister Nada al-Bustani “submitted a paper in which she chronologically specified the steps that need an agreement in order for the plan to move forward,” Jarrah added, noting that another session will be held at 3:00 pm Wednesday.
“We will continue the discussions and hopefully we will finalize them tomorrow,” the minister said.
Reassuring that the atmosphere was “very positive” and that the debate was “responsible and profound,” Jarrah told reporters that there are “two ideas” regarding the side that will carry out the tendering process.
Asked whether the plan will be discussed in Thursday's cabinet session, the minister said the plan could be discussed, even if it does not get listed on the agenda.
Media reports meanwhile said that the plan will not be discussed in Thursday's session for several reasons.
Asked about the expected date for 24/7 power feed, Jarrah said: “In the year 2020 the transitional phase will begin, and simultaneously the permanent phase will also begin.”
“But we all know that the permanent phase does not need months but rather years. According to the plan, we will begin permanent phase production in the year 2022 or in the early months of 2023, if everything does as planned,” the minister added.
Asked about power plants, Jarrah said there will be plants in Salaata, al-Zahrani, Deir Amar, al-Hraysheh and Jiye, confirming that the issue of renting power ships is no longer on the table.
According to media reports, contractors tasked with building the power plants will be responsible for providing the emergency megawatts that are currently being generated by the Turkish ships pending the start of the permanent phase.
Source: Naharnet
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/258556 |