BEIRUT, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon has moved the third Turkish power barge that arrived weeks ago from Jiyyeh to Zouk Mikael, local media reported Monday.
"The power barge will provide people in Kesrouan and some areas in Metn and Byblos with electricity, which is cheaper than what we are currently producing," local online newspaper Elnashra cited caretaker Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil as saying.
The power barge was moved to Zouk Mikael because it could not be operating at full capacity in Jiyyeh, Khalil added.
The power barge, named Esra-Sultan, is owned by Turkish Karadeniz Energy Group and will provide 200 MW of electricity gratis for the first three months, the National News Agency reported.
The current public electricity production in Lebanon stands at 2,000 MW, while national demand goes beyond 3,300 MW in summer months.
According to Khalil, the increase in demand for electricity originates from the high power consumption by Syrian refugees.
The third power barge in Zouk Mikael will compensate electricity production for two damaged power stations in the area, the minister explained.
In 2013, Lebanon contracted the first two power ships from Karadeniz to provide its citizens with electricity until more power plants are built, but the plants never materialized.
The Lebanese energy ministry, therefore, contracted this year with Karadeniz to keep the barges for another three years.
Lebanese residents usually turn to private operators during power outages, which charge higher than Karadeniz, not to mention the state-owned electricity company.
