Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayad confirmed Wednesday that repairs on a gas pipeline in northern Lebanon were scheduled to be completed by the end of February, enabling the start of gas imports from Egypt.

After a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, the Lebanese Presidency quoted Fayad as saying that, upon completion, the first phase of the work would allow Lebanon to deliver gas to Deir Ammar (a power plant in northern Lebanon).

Fayad noted that Egyptian gas imports to Lebanon would increase the country's electricity supply time by four hours, and two additional hours would be available due to power supplies from Jordan.

In December, a spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources told Sputnik that Egypt was ready to start importing gas to Lebanon in January-February 2022.

The Egyptian cabinet's press service confirmed that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi intends to provide Lebanon with Egyptian gas as soon as possible to prevent further power outages.

It is noteworthy that Egypt will supply Lebanon with natural gas via a pipeline that passes through Jordan and Syria.

On September 12th, Syria's Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources, Bassam Tohme, announced that the Arab gas pipeline is ready to transport Egyptian gas to Lebanon, noting that Syria is entitled to certain quantities of gas in exchange for its passage through Syrian territory. 

Amid severe economic meltdown, Lebanon has been unable to provide fuel for power plants for over six months, leaving the country without electricity up to 20-22 hours a day. The situation has hindered the functioning of state institutions, hospitals, and factories.

The restoration of the gas pipeline and reconstruction of the oil storage terminal would power supply run-time by 8-12 hours, while the operation of the oil storage facilities would make a strategic reserve possible.