Bassil Says Zahrani Plant Shutdown a ‘Dangerous Precedent’
Energy Minister Jebran Bassil said the shutdown of the Zahrani power plant was a “dangerous precedent,” adding it was a violation similar to the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
In remarks to al-Jadeed television, Bassil said: “What’s happening at this plant is a violation in addition to other violations carried out (in the country), including the funding of the tribunal.”
The minister was referring to Premier Najib Miqati’s announcement that he had transferred the funds to the STL that has indicted four Hizbullah members in the Feb. 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri and 21 others.
“What is happening today didn’t even take place during the Lebanese (civil) war,” Bassil said. “The citizen shouldn’t be held responsible for the political bickering.”
But former Energy Minister Mohammed Abdul Hamid Baidoun told An Nahar newspaper that Bassil should clarify the reasons that led to the shutdown of the plant on Friday.
He should also announce the measures taken by his ministry to resolve the crisis, Baidoun said.
Electricite du Liban has said the shutdown came in protest at the transportation of a 40 MVA power transformer in the plant from Tyre to Sidon.
But media reports have said that the workers of the plant were avenging the payment of Lebanon’s funds to the STL.
The parliamentary energy committee should hold an emergency meeting “to investigate the case that destroys the economy and public life,” Baidoun said.
He wondered why the general prosecutor’s office hasn’t taken any action yet. “Why hasn’t it issued an arrest warrant yet?”
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