Lebanon's Electricity Authority Settles Debate: Monday Report to Determine Fate of Zouk and Jieh Plants

A statement was issued by the Chairman and members of the Board of Directors of Electricité du Liban (EDL), reading as follows:

"With reference to what was raised during the session of the parliamentary committee concerned with public works and energy regarding the reactivation of the Zouk and Jieh power plants, and following the subsequent media statements, the Chairman and members of EDL's Board of Directors wish to clarify the following:

Firstly: The circulated claims regarding a split within the Board concerning the reactivation of the two plants do not reflect reality. The Board affirms that its Chairman and members continue to perform their duties with a spirit of cooperation and institutional responsibility, driven by concern for the institution's interest and the smooth operation of the public service.

Secondly: Preemptively holding Board members personally responsible for any technical fault that may occur after reactivation ignores the distribution of powers and obligations among the relevant parties. Responsibilities are determined according to laws, regulations, and contracts, in light of facts and technical reasons, and do not automatically arise merely from taking a decision to reactivate.

Thirdly: Board member Samer Hassanieh, tasked with following up on the file, presented a detailed technical overview based on documents and data received from the Institution's management and MEP company. He also clarified that the report of the committee assigned to follow up on the file will be presented to the Board next Monday for study and to take the appropriate decision in light of its results. Accordingly, preempting the Board's decision or burdening it with operational consequences before completing the file's study lacks the necessary foundations for an objective assessment.

Fourthly: Since the first day of assuming their duties, the Board has sought to increase electricity production and improve supply, thereby alleviating the burden of private generator subscriptions on Lebanese citizens. To this end, it is working on reactivating the Institution's existing plants and utilizing their production capacities, based on technical assessments, safety requirements, and operational feasibility.

The competent authorities and the operator undertake the operational work and assume the associated technical responsibilities, each within their respective powers and obligations, while the Board exercises its decisive and supervisory powers in accordance with proper procedures, placing the safety of facilities and the smooth running of the public service at the forefront of its priorities.

Fifthly: The Board affirms that it faces obstruction attempts from entities both inside and outside the Institution, for purposes that do not serve the public interest, hindering its efforts to increase production and exercise its supervisory role. It stresses that these attempts will not deter it from fulfilling its duties and working to improve electricity supply and alleviate burdens on citizens.

The Board calls for accuracy and objectivity in addressing this file, and for not preempting the results of technical and administrative procedures or launching conclusions that question decision-making mechanisms before they are completed. It confirms its continued exercise of powers and adoption of decisions based on technical and legal data and the public interest, in accordance with prevailing procedures."