February 02, 2012 02:16 AM
The Daily Star
BEIRUT: A visiting delegation of Danish experts believe that wind-generated electricity in the northern region of Akkar, expected to produce some 140 Megawatts of power, could be available in as little as 13 months.
Beirut MP Mohammad Qabbani, who chairs Parliament’s Public Works, Energy and Water Committee said the experts “told me they can generate power from wind in the Akkar region to the tune of 60 to 80 MW, which means a total of 140 MW.”
His comments came following a meeting with the Danish delegation headed by Danish Ambassador to Lebanon Jan Top Christensen. “They said they could do this within 13 months from the day the contract is signed,” Qabbani added.
Austere electricity rationing has long left parts of the country without power for several hours a day.
Endemic power cuts have worsened in the past weeks as maintenance work on several production units takes its toll on electricity supply. The situation has prompted residents to launch a series of protests across Lebanon, particularly in the south, Chouf and Bekaa regions.
Energy Minister Gibran Bassil, who has come under fire due to the lengthy electricity cuts, argues that the problem of power shortages stems from the negligence of previous governments as well as insufficient investment in the electricity sector.
According to a study last year by the UNDP, wind power could eventually produce at least 1,500 MW of electricity, which equals the country’s current output.
“There is currently an 800 MW gap between energy supply and demand in Lebanon which is being filled by private generators,” Christensen said in recent remarks. “From a societal and an environmental point of view, this is completely inefficient.”
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Daily Star on February 02, 2012, on page 2.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Feb-02/161898-north-lebanon-can-generate-140-mw-of-wind-power-say-experts.ashx#ixzz1lMPom3QJ
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