The American ambassador in Lebanon, Dorothy Shia, today inaugurated the rehabilitation project of the Rashmiya hydroelectric power station, which will illuminate 17 towns and villages in Aley and Shouf for an average of 8 hours daily upon completion of the rehabilitation. This project is part of the first group of renewable and innovative energy projects available to all (INARA), valued at 30 million US dollars. The event was attended by Marie Elaine DeVito, Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development in Lebanon, representatives of the Minister of Energy Khaled Nakhle, and several MPs, including Akram Shehayeb, Fares Boustanji, Raji Saad, Nazih Matta, Mark Daou, Najat Aoun Saliba, Cesar Abou Khalil, and Ghassan Atallah, as well as Kamel Hayek, General Director of the Electricité du Liban, and Rashmiya Mayor Mansour Mbarek.
After the Lebanese and American anthems, Rashmiya Mayor Mansour Mbarek welcomed the attendees, stating, "We meet today in this beautiful valley that separates the districts of Shouf and Aley, not to revive a glorious past or recall a glorious era but to revive hope for a better future for this dear region. Restarting the Rashmiya hydroelectric power station, though delayed for some time, remains essential for sustainable development in the area." He added, "The INARA project, this commendable initiative funded by USAID in cooperation with the Electricité du Liban, is a shining beacon in the darkness of our painful reality. We hope that this radiance will transform into a permanent light across the nation."
Ambassador Shia, in her speech, expressed her excitement for being present to announce the first activity of "Lighting Lebanon" under the INARA project, costing 30 million dollars. She stated, "Through this project, we will be able to reactivate the Rashmiya hydropower station in a relatively short timeframe.” She also noted that the decision by USAID to repair the station and the water channel (penstock) was based on six months of intensive research completed this year to study the technical, legal, and financial feasibility of renewable energy projects throughout Lebanon. She expressed her pleasure in announcing that INARA is inviting groups of municipalities to apply for solar energy systems.
Kamel Hayek, General Director of Electricité du Liban, mentioned that the institution launched a tender in 2017 to contract the rehabilitation of this plant and equip it with a new production unit. He noted that the contract awarded as a result of the tender in 2019 has not yet been implemented due to the financial and monetary crisis that has hit Lebanon. He announced, "This vital environmental project to generate electricity from renewable energy will contribute to increasing the electric capacity on the network by around 13 megawatts at a relatively low production cost and will extend the plant's lifespan for many years, especially under the difficult circumstances facing the country in general and Electricité du Liban in particular."
The representative of the Minister of Energy emphasized that this project proves once again that the electricity problem in Lebanon is merely a funding issue, stating, "The plans are in place, the studies are completed, and the tenders have been awarded, but some projects have started and stopped while others are awaiting funding. Let us all cooperate on that."
The ceremony concluded with an explanation from the INARA project regarding the estimated cost of rehabilitating the plant at around 5 million dollars and the benefits for communities connected to the Rashmiya facility from electricity during the winter of 2022-2023, once the first phase of repairs to the damaged main water channel is completed. Attendees toured the plant, which began construction during the French mandate in 1928 and was commissioned in 1932.
