US-Iranian Escalation Worries Lebanese Army Commander

A general view shows Beirut's Corniche, a seaside promenade   (R) at sunset in Beirut, Lebanon May 3, 2016. REUTERS/Alia Haju
A general view shows Beirut's Corniche, a seaside promenade (R) at sunset in Beirut, Lebanon May 3, 2016. REUTERS/Alia Haju
TT

US-Iranian Escalation Worries Lebanese Army Commander

A general view shows Beirut's Corniche, a seaside promenade   (R) at sunset in Beirut, Lebanon May 3, 2016. REUTERS/Alia Haju
A general view shows Beirut's Corniche, a seaside promenade (R) at sunset in Beirut, Lebanon May 3, 2016. REUTERS/Alia Haju

Sit-ins that paralyze Beirut from time to time and the disruption of production and services sectors have not prevented the Lebanese government from making contacts with major countries, especially US and Russia, to spare Lebanon the consequences of any confrontation between US and Iran, amid fears that Tehran would ask Hezbollah to open a front with Israel.

A Lebanese government source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Army Commander General Joseph Aoun will discuss with US military officials he will meet in Washington the possibility of an American-Iranian clash, the involvement of Israel and Hezbollah and the targeting of the Lebanese army.

The source said that the “verbal escalation cannot be underestimated because it coincides with military reinforcements from both sides in the waters of the Gulf and beyond.”

He described the situation so far as “just a display of military and media muscle, but the terrorist act at the port of Fujairah in the UAE on Sunday morning led to the emergence of a new situation,” adding that any hasty moves “could trigger a war, which extent could not be predicted and consequences could be destructive.”



Sisi: Electricity Interconnection Projects with Saudi Arabia a Model for Regional Cooperation

Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
TT

Sisi: Electricity Interconnection Projects with Saudi Arabia a Model for Regional Cooperation

Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi affirmed that the electrical interconnection project with Saudi Arabia represents a model of regional energy cooperation and a benchmark for future similar ventures in electrical connectivity, directing close monitoring of all project details.
Sisi made these remarks during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy.
According to a statement by the Egyptian presidency on Sunday, the discussion reviewed the status of electrical interconnection projects between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing their importance in enhancing grid efficiency and stability while optimizing the use of generation capacity during peak demand periods.
Cairo and Riyadh signed an agreement in 2012 to establish the electrical interconnection project at a cost of $1.8 billion, with Egypt contributing $600 million (1 USD = 49.65 EGP in local banks). In a government meeting in mid-October, Madbouly announced that the interconnection line is expected to become operational in May or June of next year, with an initial capacity of 1,500 megawatts.
This initiative is the first of its kind to enable high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power exchange in the Middle East and North Africa region. It connects Badr City in Egypt to Medina via Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. Late last month, Madbouly highlighted that the project, set to produce 3,000 megawatts in two phases, is a landmark achievement for Egypt’s energy sector.
Presidential spokesperson Mohamed al-Shenawy stated that the meeting also highlighted the progress on the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. The project is seen as vital to Egypt’s comprehensive development strategy, which aims to diversify energy sources through renewable and alternative means, improving service delivery to citizens.
Located in northern Egypt, the Dabaa plant will consist of four nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of 4,800 megawatts (1,200 megawatts per reactor). The first reactor is expected to be operational by 2028, with the others coming online sequentially. The Egyptian government has pledged to fulfill its commitments to ensure the project meets its scheduled timeline.
The president also directed the government to intensify efforts to attract investments in the energy sector, develop the management of the national gas grid, and ensure stable energy supplies for both electricity and industrial sectors. Furthermore, he urged rapid progress on renewable energy projects to diversify energy sources, expand grid capacity, and modernize the network using advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce losses.