Lebanon and Egypt will sign the final gas import agreement on June 21, a spokesperson of the Lebanese Energy Ministry told Reuters.
The plan was first discussed in 2021 as part of the U.S.-backed efforts to tackle Lebanon’s electricity shortages using Egyptian gas supplied via Jordan and Syria.
On Monday, the U.S. Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs, Amos Hochstein, arrived in Beirut to address the demarcation of the southern maritime borders.
During the visit, Hochstein also visited Lebanon’s Energy Minister, Dr. Walid Fayyad, to discuss the signing of agreements to increase electricity supply by importing Egyptian gas and Jordanian electricity.
Hochstein confirmed that, once the agreement is signed, the United States will pressure the World Bank to secure financing for Lebanon to buy gas.
This agreement is expected to finally tackle the electricity crisis that has been dragging untackled for years.