Under the deal, Egypt will supply Lebanon with 450 MW of power a day for one year. The electricity will be transmitted through the Jordanian and Syrian grids.

The deal is expected to be finalised in two weeks, Tabourian said on 1 September.

The news comes a week after Jordan also offered to provide Lebanon with 50-70MW of power up until the end of 2009.

The power grids of Libya, Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon are part of an interconnected system which could ultimately form part of the proposed Mediterranean Ring which will link into the European grid.

In August, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said his country would begin importing 200MW of power from Egypt within months (MEED 18:8:08).