Joint Committees Approve Govt.’s Decisions on Electricity Draft Law

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MP Robert Ghanem announced on Wednesday that an agreement was reached to adopt the government’s version of the electricity draft law.

He said after a meeting for the parliamentary joint committees that the law will be referred to parliament where it will be subject to a vote on Thursday.

“Prime Minister Najib Miqati addressed the law during the committees meeting and he explained all its details,” he added.

Furthermore, he revealed that Speaker Nabih Berri also addressed the committees.

At the end of the meeting, Berri telephoned Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun informing him of the “positive” atmosphere that pervaded the joint committees meeting.

Asked if he was pleased with the outcome of the meeting, Energy Minister Jebran Bassil replied: “I am satisfied every day.”

The third round of talks that kicked off at noon Wednesday was expected to witness a heated debate between the March 8 camp and the March 14-led opposition over the latter’s insistence to introduce several amendments to the bill to ensure greater transparency in the implementation of the electricity project and better spending as mentioned in the original draft law approved by the cabinet earlier this month.

Bassil’s $1.2 billion plan to generate 700 Megawatts of electricity is expected to be put to a vote during the meeting, a day before a parliamentary session to study and approve the draft law.

Head of the opposition al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora telephoned Miqati on Tuesday to inform him that the bloc insists on its demand to introduce the amendments to the bill and is not ready to reach any compromise.

A well-informed source told al-Mustaqbal newspaper that Miqati, Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and the Hizbullah leader’s aide Hussein Khalil had agreed before the cabinet session to approve the electricity project on Sept. 7 to include the amendments that the opposition is calling for but later drop them when the bill reaches parliament.

Comments 6
Default-user-icon + oua nabka + (Guest) 21 September 2011, 18:03

mabrouk for all lebanese

Thumb canaanite 21 September 2011, 18:56

mabrouk for all Lebanese... especially Bassil's pockets..!

Thumb ado.australia 21 September 2011, 20:08

Who can take the mustaqbul movement seriously? They have ruled lebanon for almost all of the past 20 years. While they were in government, they never asked for such scrutiny. They spent tens of billions that were unaudited. Even a billion dollars on the hariri investigation... But 1.2 billion for 24/7 electricity and upgrading the electricity infrastructure and they are up in arms, claiming gebran bassil will steal the money. Firsty, who are they to accuse others when they are the most unaccountable party in history. Solidere was to cost 6 billion and ended up costing 30 billion. No accountability. When salm el hoss tried in 2000, to have a Vienna based anti corruption organisation look into the misappropriation of funds, it was hariri's first act as pm in 2001, to cancel it.

Who in Lebanon does not want electricity? Blocking this bill proves they are losers. Did Bassil steal the money when he was telecom minister. They said that reducing the charges would hurt the budget... Did it?

Thumb ado.australia 21 September 2011, 20:21

Bassil reduced the mobile phone call rate and income to the Lebanese treasury increased. High speed intrernet is being provided now, after hariri's man in ogero said that they where wanting on modems??!! The mafia scum are now embarrassed, and there followers are using the excuse of non paying Shia or that Israel will destroy any new infrustrucure as an excuse for not needing this electricity bill. Well good luck with that, the next election will be decided between those trying to advance and invest in Lebanon and those constantly impeding all work and dismissing all efforts because hezballah is armed in defence against Israel, while there leader is relaxing at home in Ryahd.

Thumb thepatriot 21 September 2011, 22:50

@ado

Who was governing for the past 20 years ya ahbal!? Wasn't it hezbollah, and Berri, and Sleiman Frangieh, and Hoss, and Lahoud, and Kanso, and Karame...arn't.. those dudes your people!? Ahbal!

Default-user-icon Gabby (Guest) 22 September 2011, 08:16

Tell the Shia to pay and we don't need a loan.

Someone please do an analysis and look at the electricity deficit since the Shia haven't paid, and calculate the interest on top of it and let me know how much of the national debt is because of them.