Bassil Slams Attempts to Hinder Electricity Project as Ministers Discuss ‘Technical Issues’
Energy Minister Jebran Bassil has accused cabinet members of “putting sticks in the wheels” of the electricity project proposed by his father-in-law Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun.
“Rather than putting sticks in the wheels of this project, we would have wished that they came to us to speed up its implementation,” Bassil told As Safir daily in remarks published Tuesday.
The minister was referring to Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat and ministers loyal to him who have expressed reservations on the draft law proposed by Aoun calling for the allocation of $1.2 billion to Bassil to generate 700 Megawatts of electricity.
Bassil reiterated that the project is cohesive and should either be implemented in its entirety or not. He also said that he is willing to find a solution to the crisis but would not make major compromises.
The minister did not attend a ministerial meeting held at the Grand Serail on Monday. Ministers Mohammed Fneish, Mohammed Safadi, Nicolas Nahhas, Wael Abou Faour, Ghazi Aridi and Ali Hassan Khalil discussed the electricity crisis in the meeting presided by Premier Najib Miqati.
Abou Faour told As Safir that the conferees discussed technical issues. He reiterated that the PSP has no political motive behind its demands for the formation of a technical committee that would oversee the implementation of the project.
According to An Nahar daily, the Grand Serail meeting didn’t reach conclusive results. Consultations are ongoing and the involved parties are still facing obstacles preventing consensus on the draft law.
Miqati’s sources also stressed to al-Liwaa newspaper that further consultations are needed to find a solution to the crisis. However, they said there was no deadlock on the issue.
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