Jordan says it has discussed ways to expedite Egyptian natural gas shipments via its territory and Syria to Lebanon, which is dealing with a grueling energy-crisis.
Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh arrived in Beirut late Thursday, the first foreign official to visit Lebanon’s new prime minister who took office earlier this month.
The Associated Press quoted Khasawneh as saying that Jordan is committed to support Lebanon’s stability.
“We will not hold back our capabilities, we'll respond with all we can for our brothers in Lebanon,” Khasawneh said in a press conference with Prime Minister Najib Mikati. “We discussed ways to expedite Lebanon receiving Egyptian gas to help some of the energy challenges and electricity sector.”
He said there are efforts to provide Lebanon with some electricity from Jordan. He offered no details and said detailed discussions will follow.
Jordanian Energy Minister Hala al-Zawati said earlier this month that the infrastructure to resume gas flow to Lebanon needed checks after a 10-year hiatus. Maintenance was expected to be finalized by early October.
Lebanese officials had said the World Bank would help Lebanon finance the deal. Few details have emerged about the agreement.
The pipeline going through Jordan and Syria carries Egyptian natural gas, a deal that was halted 10 years ago because of shortages and technical issues, as well as the war in Syria.
Lebanon’s electricity company offers only a few hours of power a day, and residents have heavily relied on costly and polluting private generators.
Lebanon has also reached a deal with Iraq to secure fuel to help in generating several hours of power a day.
