Qatar Proposes Multi-Billion Energy Overhaul for Lebanon

The National Integrated Energy Investment Program outlines the construction of two 825-megawatt combined-cycle power plants in northern and southern Lebanon. Alongside this infrastructure, the deal includes a 20-year agreement for liquefied natural gas (LNG), supplemented by 800 megawatts of solar capacity and 440 megawatts of wind energy. The initiative aims to eliminate the country's reliance on expensive, polluting private diesel generators, which currently fill the void left by a state sector providing only a few hours of electricity daily.

Qatari officials intend to structure the project to avoid upfront public spending, relying instead on negotiated payment terms to attract private capital. While the proposal remains subject to final approval from both governments, its implementation could span three years. Success hinges on political alignment, a recurring hurdle in Lebanon where previous reform attempts have collapsed under the weight of sectarian gridlock. If authorized, the project would also facilitate energy imports from neighboring Syria and introduce battery storage systems to modernize the national grid.