Youssef: Bassil’s excuses on Arab Funds ‘worn out, unfounded’

Youssef: Bassil’s excuses on Arab Funds ‘worn out, unfounded’

 
Future bloc MP Ghazi Youssef said in remarks published on Wednesday that the reasons Energy Minister Gebran Bassil presented following his decision not to accept Arab funds to finance the electricity project are “worn out, unfounded and are only failed attempts to exonerate himself and those who stand behind him in stealing public funds.”

“[Those offered to finances] called Bassil twice, but basil turned them down saying that he has enough money,” Youssef told Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Anbaa.

Bassil said on Thursday that he has sent a set of conditions to those offering financial aid six months ago but has not received a response yet.

“Bassil refused to deal with Arab funds to escape auditing and subcontracting and to avoid stringent conditions to build eco-friendly power plants,” he added.

Last year, the cabinet approved Bassil’s electricity plan to allocate $1.2 billion to the Energy Ministry, on condition that the funds be transferred in installments and that the government supervises the project to increase electricity output by 700 Megawatts.

The energy minister recently said in response to continued electricity problems and protests that have erupted against him that his work is being obstructed and that the situation of the sector will worsen.

-NOW Lebanon


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