Egypt Ends Electricity Export to Lebanon

In the face of massive power cuts in Egypt, the government in Cairo has decided to end electricity exports to Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Libya:

The contracts signed with these countries stipulate that the power supply will be from surpluses during off-peak periods, Aktham Abul Ela, the ministry of electricity’s undersecretary told Al Hayat.

The article doesn’t say exactly when the supply was cut which could mean the electricity situation may get worse in Lebanon within the next 24 hours. Power cuts have been a chronic issue this summer from Sharjah to Saudi thanks to record high temperatures and major power drains in part to air conditioning systems.

The region's power grid is under immense pressure - with power cuts across Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the UAE

If you are interest to see what exactly Electricity Minister Bassil has planned for the next 4 years, then you can check out yesterday’s post.

Check out these great posts:

• Gebran Bassil’s Power Plan Detailed
• Speeding Up Lebanon’s Snail-Net
• Regulating Energy

Gebran Bassil’s Power Plan Detailed

I just received via Electricity Minister Gebran Bassil’s official fan page on Twitter his plan (the executive summary of the plan) to reform the electricity sector in Lebanon. The 3-page document is in Arabic however, you can use Google to translate (it does a pretty decent job). Here are some highlights from the document:

• EDL should start recording profits by 2015 (I find that quite a daunting task).
• By 2015, Lebanon should have a available capacity of 50%. According to Bassil’s estimates, Lebanon will be consuming 2500MW while producing 5000MW. This will then be followed by production capacity increases of 7-15% annually.
• Work should begin immediately on a 1500MW power plant as an IPP (independent power plant) where the private sector will contribute to its construction. A draft law to allow IPPs is ready.
• Building additional dams (at least 125MW production each) and wind farms as well as to encourage waste-to-energy and geothermal power.
• As for power transmission, remove the high-voltage lines over Mansourieh (a popular action for the residents of the area) and complete connection to the Arab grid.
• Lebanon’s primary energy source will be gas procured from the region (Turkey, Russia, Syria) and possible directly off Lebanon’s coast.
• Study the possibility of developing solar power plant as well as net metering to encourage the private sector to use renewable energy and transfer excess power back into the national grid (i.e. the government will pay you for your support).
• Launching energy saving laws such as encouraging the use of CFL bulbs, solar water heaters, and public light saving mechanisms.
• Gradual increase in electricity tariffs in line with an increase in production capacity (i.e. as you receive a more consistent power supply, the price will increase) as well as low tariff timings (for instance, in the middle of the night).

As you can see, a lot needs to be done and so far things aren’t looking too good as the document mentions increasing power production this summer by 250MW which clearly didn’t happen.

Bassil's ambitious plan has considerable circuits to clear before we see the light.

Check out these great posts:

• Bright Light in the Midst of Darkness
• Egypt Ends Electricity Export to Lebanon
• Wiretap Confusion

Bright Light in the Midst of Darkness

After over two decades of rolling blackouts, some schools have finally seen the light (thanks to donations, of course):

Lebanon’s remote northeastern district of Akkar, teachers and pupils at the Rajam Issa public school are hoping this winter will be the first when the lights stay on.
[...]
It is hoped that by the end of November their classroom lights, projectors and photocopying machines will stay on during power cuts thanks to a set of rooftop photovoltaic panels producing renewable electricity from one of Lebanon’s most abundant natural resources, the sun.

Hurray! We’ve finally jumped onto the Green Bandwagon. As you would expect, the government doesn’t give a hoot:

“The government is looking to reform the electricity sector, but mostly on the supply side. [The UNDP is] working with government entities to reduce load on the demand side. Reducing demand means the government can spend less on electricity generation,” [Jihad] Seoud said.

Imagine, the government is working on the supply side of the problem and what have they got to show for it? Nothing! Look at us waiting for a government to be formed, if we want electricity, we need to take matters into our own hands. That means we need to focus on on low-energy light bulbs and solar power for heating. We seriously cannot wait any longer for the government to take action. We need to start at home and push for action. If we cut our power bills, that will hurt the the electricity company and in return, we will have fewer blackouts. A win-win for us, a loss for the government. Who’s with me?

Check out these great posts:

• Gebran Bassil’s Power Plan Detailed
• Regulating Energy
• Gambling Your Education

Regulating Energy

Lebanon seems to be moving ahead with private power generation despite not having a functioning government. The country is tendering a contract for the operational assistance and capacity building for the Energy Regulatory Authority.

If we refer to the effectiveness of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, we can safely assume that the ERA will get nothing done. It also begs the question, how can you regulate energy when you don’t have any?

From BloggingBeirut.com - Dinner by Candlelight

Check out these great posts:

• Bright Light in the Midst of Darkness
• Versace’s Damac Tower Soon in DT Beirut
• UN-Invited

Private Power

Not your neighborhood electricity provider, but private sector paying for power plants:

Beirut plans to privatise the production of 1,000MW of power at Deir Amar on the coast north of Tripoli, after parliamentary elections on 7 June.

The government is working on plans to privatise an existing plant of 565MW and develop a new, $500m plant to supply an additional 435MW.

Could this be the answer to our power problems? This is Lebanon, of course not. Nothings that easy.

Lebanon already has a private utility company, Electricite de Zahle (EDZ), which when founded back in the 1920s had the right to produce and distribute electricity. But that changed in the 60s and the company is no longer allowed to produce power, only distribute. Naturally, that has ticked EDZ off. Comparing EDZ to EDL (Electricite du Liban), EDZ collects 99% of all power bills and can provide (if allowed to) uninterrupted power supply to Zahle and surrounding areas.

But hey, why ruin a highly sectraian, inefficient monopoly (read EDL) just for 24 hours of uninterrupted electricity? Who needs reliability when you have highway robbery?

Check out these great posts:

• Regulating Energy
• Gebran Bassil’s Power Plan Detailed
• Egypt Ends Electricity Export to Lebanon