Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met on Tuesday with Jordanian Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit in Dubai.
During the meeting, Hassan proposed holding a tripartite Syrian–Lebanese–Jordanian meeting in Amman to discuss energy and electricity files, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported. The talks would focus on exporting electricity and natural gas from Jordan and Egypt to Lebanon via Syria.
The long-stalled project to import electricity from Jordan and natural gas from Egypt to fuel Lebanese power plants had previously been halted due to U.S. “Caesar Act” sanctions imposed on the former Syrian regime. Following the lifting of sanctions after the regime’s fall, the electricity file has returned to the forefront of Lebanon’s political and economic agenda.
Recent visits to Beirut by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Jordanian Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan have revived the option of regional energy cooperation. Jordan has proposed supplying Lebanon with between 150 and 250 megawatts of electricity during peak hours, while Egypt has renewed its offer to provide natural gas through the Arab Gas Pipeline to operate the Deir Amar power plant, replacing fuel oil.
On the sidelines of the summit, Salam also met with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem al-Budaiwi. Discussions focused on preparations for an upcoming Lebanese-Gulf Investment Forum.
Salam reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to reforms aimed at encouraging investment, stressing that the country now holds full authority over decisions of war and peace. He called on Arab “brothers” to support Lebanon’s recovery from crisis and conflict, and to participate actively in the upcoming conference to support the Lebanese Army.
The prime minister pledged that Lebanon would not be dragged into a new conflict, noting that he maintains cooperative relations with President Joseph Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri despite differences in approach. “Cooperation is essential,” Salam said.
Salam also urged regional and Gulf leaders to reinvest in Lebanon as part of efforts to reboot the country’s economy, with particular emphasis on the construction and energy sectors. Both sectors are considered top priorities in Lebanon’s recovery plans following major local and regional transformations over the past five years.
