BEIRUT: Egypt is to supply power-starved Lebanon with 200 megawatts (MW) of electricity to help it meet a drastic shortfall, Lebanon’s Energy Minister Alan Taburian said on Monday.

“Egypt has an excess of 600 MW of electricity which will be divided as follows: 200 MW for Jordan, 200 for Syria and 200 for Lebanon,

Taburian told reporters after talks in Beirut with his Egyptian counterpart, Hassan Younis.

“If later Syria or Jordan don’t need the full amount they are offered, we could use an additional 50 MW, the minister said, adding that the grid in Lebanon would not be able to absorb more than an additional 250 MW.

“Our electricity deficit would be reduced to 500 MW, Taburian said.According to state-run utility company Lebanon Electricity (EDL), the country needs 2,200 MW of electricity to meet its daily needs but it currently generates only 1,700 MW. However it also draws 100 MW from Syria.

Electricity is a constant concern for the Lebanese government, which allocates the third largest slice of its budget, after debt servicing and salaries, to power supply.

The country suffers daily power outages, including in the capital Beirut where many businesses have bought generators to tide them over during lengthy blackouts.

The situation has been exacerbated by the high cost of fuel. -AFP