A trilateral meeting was held in the Jordanian capital, Amman, bringing together Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water Joe Saddi, Jordanian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Dr. Saleh Kharabsheh, and Syrian Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir, within the framework of cooperation to strengthen electricity interconnection and gas exchange among the three countries.
At the joint press conference following the meeting, Saddi said that this trilateral cooperation between Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, along with other friendly countries, would contribute to rebuilding Lebanon’s energy sector on more sustainable and efficient foundations.
He also pointed to the importance of electricity interconnection and natural gas projects in securing reliable energy sources at lower cost, expressing optimism that tangible progress would be achieved on this track soon.
For his part, Kharabsheh explained that the meetings addressed ways to develop gas exchange projects and make use of existing infrastructure, in addition to discussing the strengthening of electricity interconnection. He noted that technical teams had worked over the past period on preparing the necessary studies and assessments to rehabilitate the networks.
He added that these efforts had reached advanced stages in preparation for announcing their details in the near future, after the completion of the technical and contractual aspects.
Kharabsheh also said that the current cooperation includes importing natural gas from global markets via Jordan, regasifying it, and then supplying it to Syria through the Arab Gas Pipeline, which has helped support the stability of the energy sector there.
He stressed that work is now under way to complete similar arrangements with the Lebanese side, after finishing repairs to the gas networks, in preparation for moving to full-scale electricity interconnection projects.
In turn, Syrian Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir said the meeting comes as a continuation of the existing path of cooperation among the three countries, pointing to the success of joint efforts in rehabilitating parts of the Arab Gas Pipeline and drawing quantities of gas through Jordan, which has had a positive impact on the stability of Syria’s electricity grid and improved the level of service.
Al-Bashir added that Syria is working to rehabilitate electricity interconnection lines with Jordan and Lebanon, noting that a number of interconnection lines with Lebanon are ready and that the necessary technical assessments have been completed, making it possible to activate electricity interconnection in the near future. He also said there has been progress in projects to transport gas to Lebanon via Syria, contributing to enhanced electricity generation and improved energy supplies in Lebanon.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the ministers stressed the importance of continuing technical coordination and joint work to complete implementation requirements, in a way that strengthens regional integration in the energy sector and serves the interests of the three countries.
