A Turkish power barge, which arrived in Lebanon a fortnight ago, has finally set anchor at the Zouk power plant where it is scheduled to start producing electricity by mid-March with the aim of reducing ongoing blackouts across the country
Lebanon leased the Fatmagul Sultan barge as part of a US$360mn deal with Turkish firm Karkey Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim, forming the first step in a multipronged plan that the energy minister has for providing the country with full power by 2015.
A second barge has been scheduled to arrive in June 2013.
According to energy minister Gebran Bassil, the two barges are expected to increase the electricity supply enough to reduce rationing by three hours.
In central Beirut, electricity supply has remained at 21 hours a day, except for days when there have been major failures at the country?s aging plants.
Tripoli, Lebanon?s second largest city, has been experiencing steady power at 12 hours a day for some time now, The Daily Star reported.
