05-08-08 Egypt is to supply power-starved Lebanon with 200 MW of electricity to help it meet a drastic shortfall, Lebanon's Energy Minister Alan Taburian said.
"Egypt has an excess of 600 MW of electricity which will be divided as follows: 200 MW for Jordan, 200 for Syria and 200 for Lebanon," Taburian told after talks in Beirut with his Egyptian counterpart, Hassan Yunes. "If later Syria or Jordan don't need the full amount they are offered, we could use an additional 50 MW," the minister said, adding that the grid in Lebanon would not be able to absorb more than an additional 250 MW.

According to state-run utility company Lebanon Electricity (EDL), the country needs 2,200 MW of electricity to meet its daily needs but it currently generates only 1,700 MW. However it also draws 100 MW from Syria.
"Our electricity deficit would be reduced to 500 MW," Taburian said. It was not clear why the figures given by the minister, who is newly appointed to the post, differ from those of the EDL.

Electricity is a constant concern for the Lebanese government, which allocates the third largest slice of its budget, after debt servicing and salaries, to power supply. The country suffers daily power outages, including in the capital Beirut where many businesses have bought generators to tide them over during lengthy blackouts.
The situation has been exacerbated by the high cost of fuel.