AMMAN - The 13th meeting of the energy ministers of seven regional partners in an electric interconnectivity project opens on Monday to discuss the progress made in the scheme.
The officials, representing Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Syria and Turkey, are expected to accept Palestine as a new partner in the vital project, National Electric Power Company CEO Ahmad Hiyasat said on Saturday.
Hiyasat added that the electric linkage with Palestine will be implemented through Jordan after obtaining approval from the states involved in the project and after infrastructure is in place.
"The ministers are expected to announce Palestine as a new member in the project which will be provided with electricity through the Jordanian electric grid," Hiyasat told The Jordan Times yesterday, adding that Jordan will bear the cost of the connection inside its territories and the Palestinian side will undertake the project's expenses in their lands. The power linkage cost is expected to amount to JD20 million, he said.
Earlier this year, NEPCO started providing the West Bank city of Jericho with its needs of electricity.
Last month, the Kingdom offered to provide Lebanon, on daily basis, with 50 to 70 megawatts of electricity at special prices until the end of 2009.
The Lebanese delegation to the meeting is expected to reply to the offer, according to Hiyasat.
Lebanon's Minister of Energy and Water Resources Alain Tabourian announced earlier this month that Lebanon had already reached an agreement to acquire around 450 megawatts of electricity from Egypt via Jordan and Syria.
Under the agreement, Egypt is scheduled to convey around 450 megawatts of electricity to Lebanon daily for a one-year term, the minister said at a press conference yesterday.
By Hani Hazaimeh
© Jordan Times 2008
