Qatari electricity lifeline for Lebanon includes two power plants, LNG supply deal
Qatar plans to build two power plants in Lebanon within three years and sign a 20-year LNG supply deal as part of a broader effort to revive the country's struggling electricity sector.
Qatar is set to construct two power plants and provide 20 years of liquefied natural gas supply to Lebanon, according to a proposal aimed at rejuvenating the ailing Lebanese power sector, Reuters reported. Lebanon's energy sector has been a major contributor to the country's financial woes, adding billions to the national debt despite failing to deliver consistent power.
The state power company currently only provides a few hours of electricity daily, with the rest coming from expensive private diesel generators that produce toxic emissions, creating a persistent smog over Beirut. In October 2026, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani publicly pledged to assist in revitalizing Lebanon's power sector, though few specifics were shared with reporters at the time.
The proposal, drafted with input from both Lebanese and Qatari governments, encompasses gas-fired power generation, LNG supply and regasification, renewable energy sources, battery storage, and regional electricity interconnections. The financing and guarantees are still under negotiation. The program, named the National Integrated Energy Investment Program, aims to attract private financing without requiring initial public budget expenditure.
Its implementation is projected to take three years if approvals are swift. Qatar has a history of providing financial and political support to Lebanon during various crises. The proposal includes two combined-cycle power plants with a combined capacity of 825 megawatts each, one in Deir Ammar in the north and another in Zahrani in the south.
QatarEnergy would also sign a 20-year LNG supply agreement with Lebanon, using a floating storage and regasification unit with a daily capacity of 3.5 million cubic meters and the Arab Gas Pipeline via Syria at a capacity of 4.5 million cubic meters per day. The proposal also envisions 800 MW of solar and 440 MW of wind power, battery capacity, and potential power imports from Syria, initially 300 MW via two separate routes.
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