Lebanon Electricity Board Approves Preliminary Restart of Zouk and Jieh Power Plants

The board of directors of Electricité du Liban held a meeting during which it discussed "a number of files related to the institution's work, particularly the file on restarting the Zouk and Jieh power plants," according to a statement.

The board appreciated "the role of the media in following its efforts and supporting it in overcoming difficulties, increasing electricity production, and contributing to the success of the new board's mission for the public interest," and called on them to "exercise accuracy in transmitting information related to the institution's files, stressing that its board of directors is the sole official reference for information issued by it."

It also called for "keeping the board and the institution's files away from political tug-of-war and personal interests, and removing the file on restarting the two plants from media debates, to allow room for addressing it within the competent institutional frameworks, serving the public interest."

In the context of discussing this file, the board affirmed "its full solidarity with the two members of the committee tasked with studying the possibility of restarting the Zouk and Jieh power plants, clarifying that the preparation of this report was officially assigned to them by a decision of the board of directors, within the framework of the mission entrusted to them."

After deliberation, the board of directors adopted the following decision:

"Having reviewed the final presentation of the committee tasked with studying the restart of the Zouk and Jieh power plants, and the relevant judicial decisions and requirements of the ongoing judicial expertise before the State Council, and after discussion, and out of concern for the public interest, increasing electricity production, alleviating burdens on citizens, and preserving public funds, the board of directors decided as follows:

First: Preliminary approval of the restart of the two plants. Preparations are underway to restart units whose integrity and readiness are proven, provided that each unit begins operation only after documenting the results of inspections and tests by the manufacturer MAN.

Second: Implementation of procedures in coordination with concerned parties, taking into account existing judicial disputes, particularly before the State Council, and complying with relevant judicial decisions without affecting these disputes or anticipating their outcomes, while preserving the rights of all parties. The legal department is tasked, in coordination with the institution's agent, with verifying the requirements of effective decisions and measures, following up on the judicial expertise, and coordinating with the expert within his mission. Before any operation, dismantling, maintenance, or replacement of parts that may affect the subject of the expertise, the technical condition must be documented and evidence and parts preserved.

Third: Confirmation that the restart and associated procedures do not constitute an explicit or implicit discharge of the operator's liability, nor an exemption from any obligations or responsibilities. The institution's rights and claims against him remain fully preserved, in compliance with final judicial rulings. Inspection, maintenance, or restart does not constitute an acknowledgment of the safety of previous works or the validity of disputed claims, nor acceptance of spare parts under dispute, nor waiver of the institution's rights against any concerned party. Necessary measures shall be taken in parallel to preserve claims, guarantees, warranties, and legal and contractual deadlines, without waiting for the completion of the expertise or issuance of a ruling.

Fourth: Tasking the committee with utilizing all necessary technical expertise for inspection, especially the manufacturer MAN – Everllence, regarding generation sets and equipment of the two plants, determining their condition and readiness, and formulating a clear plan for necessary works and tests before operation and for its stages and sequential steps, and submitting it to the board of directors to take necessary decisions sequentially. The plan includes identifying proposed units for operation, required tests and works for each unit, execution sequence, duration, cost, and responsible parties.

Fifth: Separating all new inspections, maintenance, and operations from previous claims under dispute. This decision does not authorize settling, acknowledging, paying, or making partial payments on those claims, nor waiving any right, guarantee, or warranty. Contracts and expenses necessary for the restart shall be presented to the board of directors for approval in accordance with legal and contractual procedures."