Minister of Energy in the caretaker government, Walid Fiad, pointed out that "we are trying to reduce the electricity tariff, especially for January and February. As for the exchange rate, it is a price determined by the Banque du Liban in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, and we receive this price rather than setting it ourselves; it is currently the Sayrafa rate plus twenty percent."
He emphasized that "we will work with the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank to take measures to reach a better solution for the exchange rate that more accurately reflects the reality in the country. Improvements are expected in the bills, which will become monthly starting from last March. This will be better for citizens so they can pay the bills."
Fiad highlighted during a ministerial meeting at the Grand Serail chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, attended by Finance Minister Youssef Khalil and the chairman-general manager of Electricité du Liban, Kamal Hayek, alongside Director General of the Ministry of Finance, George Maarawi, that "the decision confirmed regarding the tariff by the Ministers of Finance and Energy and the Presidency of the Council allows Electricité du Liban to make periodic adjustments to the fixed and variable components of the tariff based on fluctuations in oil prices."
He indicated that "the ministry is still in the process of implementing its plan to increase supply hours, aiming to reach ten hours daily by utilizing all electricity plants across Lebanon to their maximum capacity." He stated, "It is expected that by the end of July at the latest, larger shipments of Iraqi fuel will arrive, which will increase electricity supply."
Fiad noted, "We do not want to burden citizens with the energy consumption that, for example, public institutions and ministries benefit from, which must fulfill their obligations and pay their due bills, as well as the Syrian and Palestinian refugee camps." He revealed that "President Mikati has invited me and the general manager to participate in a meeting scheduled for next Monday morning with the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, Imran Riza, to discuss how to assign the organization to pay the bills for the camps, especially since Electricité du Liban has completed the installation of meters for these camps and we can now issue the bills and charge the organization to pay them, as we can no longer provide free energy to these camps."
