Lebanon’s Minister of Finance held discussions with a World Bank delegation focused on advancing structural reforms in the energy sector, with particular emphasis on the national electricity strategy and the development of renewable energy.
The talks reviewed the World Bank’s $250 million energy loan, which has already entered the disbursement phase but remains insufficient to address the scale of rehabilitation required for Lebanon’s electricity infrastructure.
Minister Jaber underscored the state’s limited ability to finance power plant reconstruction through public funds alone, highlighting the necessity of robust public-private partnerships (PPPs). He stressed that attracting private investment depends on the availability of clear guarantees and raised the question of how the World Bank could contribute to providing the required assurances.
Two key prerequisites for effective PPPs in the electricity sector were identified: the completion of audited financial statements for Electricité du Liban to ensure transparency and accountability, and the full activation of the electricity regulatory authority with genuine legal and operational independence.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fulfilling these conditions as essential steps to restoring confidence, mobilizing investment, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of energy sector reforms. Coordination with the World Bank is ongoing to explore additional financing avenues and complementary support mechanisms aimed at accelerating reform implementation and improving public service delivery.
Against the backdrop of long-standing governance challenges and mismanagement within the energy sector, the current leadership is prioritizing accountability for past failures while enforcing strict compliance and transparency in all new tenders, contracts, and agreements. The World Bank delegation is closely monitoring these reforms, as well as the measures adopted by the Cabinet and the Ministry of Energy, viewing them as a potential turning point toward renewed international donor confidence and increased external support.
