Lebanon’s Minister of Energy and Water Gebran Bassil has launched a tender for a build-operate-transfer (BOT) LNG import facility with the deadline for bids set for 23 December. Lebanon’s plans call for installation of a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU).
Mr Basil says that the ministry will begin a round of negotiations with five preferred bidders in January 2014 and expects to sign contracts in the third or fourth quarter of 2014. But it remains unclear if the ministry has the proper authority to execute the LNG deal, given its “caretaker” status. Lebanon has been without a government since the resignation of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati in March of this year. There is no indication that Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam is closing in on a deal to form a government of his own in the near future. (CONTINUED - 271 WORDS)
