Qatar to fund solar plant for Lebanon at no cost to the state

Qatar will finance, build and operate a large solar power plant in Lebanon, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said during a visit to Beirut by Qatar's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, on 16 October.

According to Al Jazeera and The National, QatarEnergy has agreed with France's TotalEnergies to develop the plant jointly as a first project within a wider energy cooperation framework. Salam said the Lebanese state would bear no cost.

The Prime Minister said he would bring the electricity-sector plans to the Cabinet soon. Reports gave no capacity, timeline or total cost, so those details remain unconfirmed.

The state electricity company is among the heaviest burdens on Lebanon's public finances. Reliable and cheaper power would help families and businesses, provided the project is governed transparently and approved through the proper institutions.