Zouk, Jiyeh plants
restoration financed

A total of 960 megawatts of power to be refurbished

Parliament has approved, in its plenary session last month, a loan agreement for the restoration of the Zouk and Jiyeh power plants.

The Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development will finance the agreement with 25 million Kuwaiti dinars ($82 million). The loan has a two percent yearly interest and will be paid back over a period of 20 years. It has a grace period of five years.

The project entails restoring four power generation units in Zouk with a combined capacity of 600 megawatts and five power generation units in Jiyeh, with a combined capacity of 360 MW.

The works include mechanical, electrical, micro-electronic, civil, and consultative services. The mechanical works are for the restoration of steams, turbines, piping, and cooling water pumps. The electrical works are for the restoration and development of spare parts, transistors, and protection systems in the two plants. Control and measurement systems and control, supervision, and storage systems will be restored. Concrete and lighting will also be rehabilitated.

The project is expected to take four years. Project management will be handled by the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR).