Fuel prices on the rise in Lebanon

Energy Minister Gebran Bassil’s office issued a statement on Wednesday outlining the prices of gasoline, oil and fuel in Lebanon for the week.

Per 20 liters, unleaded 95 and 98 gasoline prices increased by 500 LL to 31,500 LL and 32,200 LL respectively. Diesel oil prices increased by 400 LL. One percent sulfur fuel prices increased by $11 per ton. Household gas tank prices increased by 400 LL for 10 kg tanks and 600 LL for 12.5 kg tanks. (Now Lebanon)

U.S. Ambassador meets with ministers of public works and energy

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michele J. Sison met Thursday with Minister of Energy and Water Gebran Bassil and Minister of Public Works and Transportation Ghazi Aridi.

At the Ministry of Energy and Water, Ambassador Sison and Minister Bassil discussed the details of the pending Memoranda of Understanding between the U.S. government and the Ministry for two new water projects funded through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) totaling $28 million. USAID’s Lebanon Water and Wastewater Sector Support program will assist all four Lebanese water authorities maintain financial and operational sustainability and USAID’s Litani River Basin Management Support program will provide technical support to the Litani River Authority.
At the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, Ambassador Sison and Minister Aridi discussed the ministry’s public works project priorities for the coming year.
Ambassador Sison conveyed to both ministers the United States government’s desire for continued cooperation with the Lebanese government on important economic growth, development and reform priorities. Source: US embassy

Bassil: $150 million in annual electricity bills are not paid

Lebanon’s Energy Minister Gebran Bassil said following a meeting with Electricité Du Liban’s ( EDL) General Manager Kamal al-Hayek that $150 million worth of electricity bills are not paid per year and added that collection is a “priority.”
The minister added that all the Lebanese should pay their electric bills, regardless of their region. He also called for subsidizing fuel for the poor.
According to EDL sources, electricity bill collectors are afraid of going to Hezbollah and Amal neighborhoods for security reasons. Several collectors have been either killed or attacked whenever they tried to collect electric bills. These sources are saying that since the current FPM minister is allied with Hezbollah he should be able to put pressure on the group to pay their electricity bills

Hariri heads a ministerial delegation to Copenhagen summit

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri arrived in Denmark to participate in the UN Climate Change Conference at the head of the Lebanese delegation that includes ministers Mohammad Rahhal, Rayya al-Hassan, Gebran Bassil and Mohammad Jawad Khalifeh.
According to local reports Hariri is expected to address the conference on Wednesday. He is also expected to meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon .