Iran electricity offer fails to move Lebanon

Lebanese officials treated an Iranian offer to build new power plants at competitive rates with some reservations and indifference, a source told The Daily Star Thursday.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Prime Minister Najib Mikati and other senior officials who met with visiting Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi did not explicitly reject Tehran's offer but at the same time made no serious commitment in response to the gesture.

"Lebanese officials did not show enthusiasm for the Iranian offer, although they did not say that publically," the source said.

It is not clear why the Lebanese side is reluctant to accept the Iranian offer.

But observers believe the Lebanese government is trying to avoid the wrath of the United States and some Arab countries who want to isolate Iran.

Rahimi told reporters at the Grand Serail after talks with Mikati that Tehran was willing to build medium and large power plants in a short time and at competitive rates.

He added that Iran could supply Lebanon with sufficient electricity through a power grid that crosses through Iraq and Syria.

Lebanon's government has received numerous offers to alleviate the steep power crisis which has gripped the country for more than 20 years.

Lebanon's chronic electricity crisis is expected to worsen in the coming few years as power consumption rises due to population growth and an influx of visitors during the summer.

Source: The Lebanon Daily Star