Cyprus agreed on Monday to provide Lebanon with technical assistance and expertise to modernise its electricity transmission and distribution networks, and improve infrastructure efficiency.

Energy issues were discussed on Monday in Nicosia by Energy Minister George Papanastasiou and his Lebanese counterpart Joe Saddi.

During the meeting, the two ministers discussed deepening bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, focusing on developing energy security and upgrading electricity infrastructure. 

Saddi’s working visit follows discussions initiated in July in the context of a meeting between the presidents of Cyprus and Lebanon, Nikos Christodoulides and Joseph Aoun respectively, at the presidential palace in Nicosia.

Welcoming Saddi at the presidential palace following the ministers’ bilateral meeting, Christodoulides highlighted the close ties between the neighbouring countries and recalled his recent visit to Beirut following Aoun’s election.

Christodoulides also mentioned Cyprus’ upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union, saying that “we are working hard to achieve positive developments regarding the EU-Lebanon relations.”

To that end, he referred to a visit to Lebanon last year with the president of the European Commission, the first of its kind.

The meeting further explored future energy projects, particularly the possibility of an electricity interconnection between Cyprus and Lebanon.

“It is very important to have something tangible to enable cooperation with the EU in this direction, securing its political and economic support,” Christodoulides explained.

Saddi affirmed Lebanon’s interest and commitment to pursuing electricity connectivity and broader energy cooperation with Cyprus.