President Michel Aoun met Energy Minister Walid Fayad today at Baabda Palace, and discussed with him the results of contacts to import gas and electricity from Egypt and Jordan.


After the meeting, Minister Fayad made the following statement:


“I briefed the President about the last round of talks which I conducted with brotherly countries which are helping us to rent gas and electricity, namely Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Jordan. We count on the success of this step, and we hope that in the coming months we will reach positive results in this regard to increase electricity supply for the Lebanese.


I also briefed the President about what we are doing in the matter of distribution, so that we can improve the electricity situation, since we cannot advance the electricity sector without parallel distribution and production, in terms of improving performance or reducing waste, leading to an increase in bills in a way which protects people with low incomes. In the meantime, this helps cover part of the cost of EDL which has no sources which can cover fuel dues. 


In this context, we must seek some balance, and His Excellency is fully aware of the importance of this issue. In addition, I reassured President Aoun that there is no fuel crisis today, and that fuel will normally be available in the market, although we dislike the prices, but at the end of the day these are the market prices, which remain cheaper than the prices of fuel in countries surrounding us which do not produce oil, or even those who produce oil”.


Questions & Answers:


Question: What is the case of the ten percent which was discussed yesterday?


Answer: “This issue will not generate a fuel crisis, as rumored. This is a pricing method which facilitates the distribution of access to hard currency among the participants of this process. The Central Bank is the main payer in this matter, and this facilitates the distribution of responsibility for obtaining US Dollars in the market, allowing the issue to be absorbed through the mechanisms of supply and demand, so we never expect a fuel  crisis”.


Question: What are the results of your talks with Arab countries? What do you say to the Lebanese citizen who you promised 12 hours of feeding?


Answer: “I did not promise for 12 hours of feeding. I promised the best supply possible to secure electricity at a price lower than the prices of private generators whose bills, unfortunately, have become very high due to the lack of diesel subsidies. We are trying to determine the most fair bill for generator owners on one hand, and of course for the citizen on the other, knowing that we understand that prices are very high.


Question: What were the results of your Arab tour?


Answer: “Stances of Arab countries which I visited, since I assumed my governmental responsibilities, which are Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Iraq, have been and still support Lebanon and are positive. Contacts are ongoing to complete things positively. At the same time, we want all Arab countries to stand by us, and for Lebanon to be an integral part of Arab cooperation”.


Question: There are permanent disputes between generator owners and the Energy Ministry over pricing, and the citizen pays the price. What will you do about it?


Answer: “There are many transgressions which occur, and we cannot remove them all with the stroke of a pen. We want to work with the Economy Ministry and the Consumer Protection Authority to prevent abuse, and install meters in accordance with the relevant law. At the same time, the market itself is not easy, because each generator has its size and financial nature, and is subject to its cost and the amount of energy it distributes. The important thing is that the equation we set is fairly fair to everyone, covering the costs of private generators and at the same time not allowing huge profits for generator owners. Not everyone in the private sector can provide electricity from private generators at the same cost, and the issue needs an operational scale for things to proceed. Because of this, it is expected that this will not suit some of the people, but we cannot price according to what suits them”.


Question: What about generator owners’ refusal to install meters?


Answer: “Generator owners do not have the right to refuse installing meters, because this constitutes an injustice to people equivalent to a crime, and we must give the consumer the ability to monitor and rationalize electricity consumption”. 


Head of Banks’ Association:


The President received Head of the Association of Banks, Dr. Salim Sfeir, and his Advisor, Mr. Antoine Habib, and deliberated with them banking and economic affairs.


Sfeir stressed the necessity of expediting addressing the current economic affairs to form a lever for solutions to be adopted in dealing with political affairs. Sfeir also pointed to the importance of the banking sector’s role in economic advancement, for which a plan is being prepared.


Monsignor Kiwan:


President Aoun met Monsignor Maroun Kiwan and a delegation including his brother Elie Kiwan, and Mayor of Freidis town, Shaya Karam.


The delegation thanked President Aoun for sending MP, Farid Boustany, to represent him in the festive mass which was held at St. Elias Church, Freidis, on the occasion of granting Monsignor Kiwan the rank of Archbishop.