Egypt kicked off yesterday a test power-up of its power linkage line with Lebanon to supply Lebanon with electricity outside rush hours in Egypt through the eight-member power linkage network. Electricity Minister Hassan Yunis announced the start of the experimental operation of power linkage line between Egypt and Lebanon, adding power supplied to Lebanon would be increased according to its needs and power reserve available in Egypt's grid. Egypt and Lebanon have recently signed an agreement to supply Lebanon with 150-450MW of electricity via the eight-member power grid that sends power also to Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. "If Jordan and Syria have sufficient electricity from their own power stations then Lebanon can receive as much as 450 MW," he said. Supplying Lebanon with power is part of Egypt's nonstop support for the Lebanese people, he added. This comes under President Mubarak's instructions. The new agreement crowns the Arab efforts that seek to make the pan-Arab power linkage project one of the main Arab integrity pivots, he noted. The eight-side network covers Egypt, Libya, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, the Palestinian National Authority and Turkey.
