The agreement was concluded during a visit by Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to Egypt in mid-August. Siniora said energy ministers from the two countries would start meeting to draft the details of an agreement soon.

Lebanon will begin receiving 200MW of power from Egypt within months, said Siniora. The country currently suffers blackouts on a daily basis. Total installed capacity of 1,500MW, is 800MW short of Lebanon’s needs.

Under the agreement, Lebanon will also import Egyptian gas through the Arab Gas Pipeline, reducing its reliance on fuel oil as a feedstock for its power plants.