France reaffirms support for energy interconnection project with Lebanon

AMMAN — French envoy Pierre Duquesne, in charge of coordinating international support to Lebanon, visited Jordan on Wednesday as part of a regional trip, after a visit to Cairo and before heading to the Lebanese capital.

The mission reaffirmed France's support for the energy interconnection project, which aims to provide the Lebanese people with Egyptian gas and Jordanian electricity, with support from the World Bank. 

This initiative, which is crucial for the Lebanese people, should also enable Jordan to promote its production capacities, at a time when the country is also affected by global energy shocks, according to a statement from the French embassy in Amman. 

During his visit, Duquesne met with the Royal Court, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and the Minister of Energy.

Duquesne's visit is part of the French president's ongoing efforts to push the Lebanese authorities to take action and help the Lebanese people cope with the crisis, the statement said.

During his visit, Duquesne said: "France encourages the Lebanese government and its international partners to act quickly in order to obtain the necessary international support for this important project."

This project also reflects strengthened regional cooperation, the statement said.

 In this endeavour, France is co-organising the Baghdad format, the second conference of which took place in Jordan on December 20 at the invitation of His Majesty King Abdullah, and in collaboration with French President Emmanuel Macron and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq, Mohammed Shia Al Soudani.

After his visit to Cairo and Amman, the envoy will travel to Lebanon and then to Washington , DC, for discussions with the World Bank and US authorities.

Jordan, Lebanon and Syria last year signed an agreement and contract to supply Lebanon with electricity from Jordan through Syria’s electricity grid.. 

Under the agreement, Jordan will supply Lebanon with 150 megawatts from midnight until 6am, in addition to 250 megawatts during the rest of the day. 

In 2021, Jordan, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon reached an agreement to provide Egyptian natural gas to Lebanon via Jordan and Syria.