Akkar MPs urge Bassil to quit

Akkar MPs Mouin al-Merhebi, Khaled Zahraman, Nidal Tohme and a representative for MP Khaled al-Daher held a meeting last night to discuss the electricity situation in Akkar, National News Agency reported.

MP Merhebi said in a statement that the participants called on Energy Minister Gebran Bassil to resignbecause of his failure (more…)

Jumblatt says his objection to Aoun’s bill is technical

MP Walid Jumblatt, National Front Struggle parliamentary bloc leader said in remarks published on Thursday that his bloc’s position on the electricity draft bill during Wednesday’s parliament session “is technical,” and has nothing to do with taking sides. (more…)

Siniora responds to Aoun’s criticism over energy bill

Former Lebanese PM and current Future Movement parliamentary bloc leader MP Fouad Siniora said on Wednesday that the draft bill proposed by Change and Reform parliamentary bloc leader MP Michel Aoun “should have been complemented with a clear project that shows how it will use the available funding, instead of resorting to borrowing through the Lebanese treasury.” (more…)

Parliament rejects Aoun’s energy draft bill

March 14 MP Ahmad Fatfat criticized on Wednesday the draft bill proposed by the Change and Reform bloc by saying it was drafted in favor of bloc leader MP Michel Aoun’s interests.

“This is why he was angry that the parliament did not adopt it,” he said, (more…)

Media Against Violence condemns Bassil’s behavior

Media Against Violence issued a statement on Thursday condemning Energy Minister Gebran Bassil’s action “in which he kicked out Future News television reporter Rabih Chantaf from the ministry on Wednesday” when Bassil was holding a press conference on the increase of gas prices. (more…)

Bassil admits he intentionally led Lebanon into gasoline crisis

Caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil admitted on Sunday to causing the gasoline crisis that has engulfed Lebanon but said there wasn’t any other way to defend the people’s rights and lower prices. Lebanese Forces bloc MP Antoine Zahra slammed Bassil for holding the Lebanese hostage as he showed off his power, asking “Do you run the country with malice?” (more…)

Bassil: Geagea is isolating Christians

The Free Patriotic Movement snapped back at Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea by accusing him of calling for “isolation and confinement.”

“This is an invitation for political murder,” Energy Minister Jebran Bassil told An Nahar daily in response to Geagea’s appeal to FPM supporters to return to the founding principles of the movement and hold onto them. (more…)

Lebanon Energy Ministry’s budget approved

The Parliamentary Finance and Budget Commission approved on Monday the Energy Ministry’s budget in the presence of Energy Minister Gebran Bassil and Finance Minister Rayya al-Hassan, according to local reports. (more…)

Bassil sets end July as deadline for paying past-due water bills

Lebanon’s Energy and Water Minister Gebran Bassil on Saturday set end July as the deadline for politicians and public figures to pay their past-due water bills,” noting that he will be firm in cutting the water supply of those who don’t pay.

Bassil noted that the June-end deadline for politicians and public figures to pay (past-due) electric bills has ended (more…)

Bassil: Electricity Problem Needs Bold Decision by Government

Lebanon’s Energy and Water Minister Gebran Bassil said Saturday that “solving the electricity problem needs a bold, strategic and clear decision by the government in order to face the ongoing major deficiency.”

He revealed that he prepared a plan of ” ten points, among them three related to renewable energy, in addition to the proper management of (power) demand and effective energy.” (more…)