Lebanon celebrates the production of three megawatts of solar energy serving 651 households!

The Minister of Energy, Arthur Nazarian, participated yesterday at the "Seventh Energy Forum in Beirut" organized by the Lebanese Centre for the Preservation of Energy and announced to citizens that Lebanon is witnessing a “great progress” in renewable energy in 2016.  Nazarian boasted that the public sector has put in place three solar energy centres producing each 1 megawatt in addition to another 20 megawatts from central solar energy centres.  According to As Safir newspaper, Lebanon currently needs 3200 megawatts of electricity of which only 1600 megawatts are being produced.  To be noted that the production capacity of each megawatt is circa 4348 amperes which can cover 217 houses.  Thus, three megawatts can serve 651 houses.  Nazarian insisted on the importance of partnership between the private and the public sectors at the level of energy and sustainable development.  He further highlighted the role of the Central Bank which is providing loans to the private sector.  The Minister added that the Ministry of Energy is extending efforts so that the public sector sets up circa 20 megawatts of solar energy by 2020.  He announced that negotiations are currently on-going in collaboration with the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, so as to set the purchasing cost of energy from the three technically eligible companies so as to undertake a public bidding for 200 megawatts worth of wind energy.  These negotiations are carried out via a ministerial committee including the PM and the Ministry of Finance. (

As Safir, September 22, 2016)