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Sunday, 16 August 2026dailybeirut.com
Lebanon
Energy Minister Jauad Al-Sadi confirmed maintenance on the Arab gas pipeline has begun, with Egyptian firm TGS leading four-week repairs followed by a two-week trial period ahead of full gas-powered operation at the Deir Ammar power plant.
Energy Minister Jauad Al-Sadi confirmed that maintenance and rehabilitation work on the Arab gas pipeline has officially commenced. The effort targets infrastructure critical to shifting electricity generation to natural gas, particularly the pipelines linking the Deir Ammar power plant to the Dubaysah terminal.
During a visit to oil facilities in Tripoli and the Deir Ammar power plant, Al-Sadi stated that Egyptian company TGS is carrying out the repair and maintenance operations. He specified that the works are scheduled to last approximately four weeks, after which a two-week trial period will follow. This trial phase is intended to prepare for the full transition of the Deir Ammar plant to natural gas operation.
The minister emphasized the need for specialized technical personnel to support the ongoing infrastructure upgrades. “I will request that the Council of Ministers approve contracts with technical experts for this step,” he said.
On gas supply, Al-Sadi noted that Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria are jointly drafting a natural gas purchase agreement. Under the proposed arrangement, the three countries will coordinate the procurement and liquefaction of natural gas at Aqaba before transporting and utilizing it for power generation.
Al-Sadi added that switching to natural gas is expected to reduce electricity production costs, thereby easing financial pressure on the electricity sector and improving the operational efficiency of power generation plants.
