Qatar announces major solar plant project in Lebanon amid energy crisis
Qatar has announced plans to establish a major solar power plant in Lebanon as part of a wider energy cooperation framework between the two countries. The announcement was made in Beirut on Friday by Qatar's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, after talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The project is being presented as an initial step in a broader effort to ease Lebanon's electricity shortage.
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Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar and Lebanon had agreed to create a comprehensive framework for cooperation in the energy sector and to present what he described as viable solutions. He said QatarEnergy had reached an agreement with TotalEnergies to jointly develop the solar plant. According to the Lebanese prime minister, the Qatari side will fund, implement and activate the project without any cost to the Lebanese state.
The announcement comes as Lebanon continues to face a severe electricity and financial crisis. Salam said he would soon bring plans for the electricity sector before the Lebanese Cabinet, underscoring the urgency of the issue. Lebanon's state electricity company has long been one of the country's biggest sources of debt, with the company said to have accumulated about $40bn in losses over past decades.
The power shortage has left the state utility able to provide only a few hours of electricity a day. The situation has also been worsened by the country's financial collapse and repeated fuel shortages, with the state previously relying on advances from the Central Bank when diesel ran out. In that context, a new solar project could carry significance beyond energy supply, touching on public finances, infrastructure reform and the wider effort to stabilise essential services.
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The talks in Beirut also covered regional security issues, including what Sheikh Mohammed described as Israeli violations in Lebanese territory. He said the discussions included the situation in southern Lebanon, where Israel continues its assault, and called for Israel to withdraw and stop its attacks. He also said Qatar was working in coordination with the United States on groundwork for future reconstruction in the south.
What remains unclear is the size of the planned solar plant, the timeline for construction and how the project will be integrated into Lebanon's wider electricity strategy. It is also not yet clear how quickly the Cabinet will act on the proposal or what regulatory steps will follow. The project now appears to be at the stage of political agreement, with implementation details still to be set out.
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