The opening ceremony of the third edition of the Middle East Clean Energy Exhibition and Conference took place on Wednesday afternoon, May 8th. The event was attended by His Excellency, the Minister of Energy and Water, Dr. Walid Fayad. The exhibition and conference, specialized in clean and renewable energy, showcased cutting-edge technologies, along with a range of related solutions and services. Exhibitors presented their commercial products, including inverters, panels, batteries, solar heaters, and project financing. The event is scheduled to run until May 10th, 2024, at Hotel Phoenicia, in the heart of the capital city, Beirut, Lebanon.

The ceremony began with the Lebanese national anthem, followed by a speech by Beirut Expo's founder, Mr. Farhat Farhat, emphasizing the importance of holding such initiatives despite internal challenges and the war in southern Lebanon. This reflects a commitment to economic activity and the country's recovery.

The first session of the conference, titled "National Policy of Energy Sector" was then held. It featured the participation of His Excellency, Minister of Energy and Water, Dr. Walid Fayad, His Excellency, the Director General of Electricité du Liban, Dr. Kamal Hayek, His Excellency, the Chairman of the National Authority for the Litani River, Dr. Sami Alouie, and the Chairman of the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation, Mr. Pierre Khoury. The session was attended by a large audience of invitees, including officials from the Ministry of Energy and Water, members of company boards, and company owners from Lebanon, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.

Dr. Kamal Hayek discussed the status of Electricité du Liban following the August 4th explosion, as well as the emergency plans approved by the government to improve the electricity sector. He highlighted the board's decisions to implement national emergency plans, including tariff adjustments and Electricité du Liban's future vision and dealings with international donors such as the World Bank. Dr. Sami Alouie emphasized the importance of hydroelectric power and its role in reducing emissions as a clean energy source, discussing its relationship with Electricité du Liban. Minister Walid Fayad then spoke about the Ministry of Energy and Water's direction towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly clean energy technologies, affirming Lebanon's commitment to transitioning to sustainable energy, less costly than fossil fuels, and its role in combating climate change.

"It is undeniable that the solar energy market has seen significant growth between 2010 and 2020, especially in solar water heating systems, with solar water heating systems covering over 900,000 square meters across Lebanon. Likewise, the market for electricity production through solar and wind energy has witnessed significant growth, especially with the removal of subsidies on petroleum products. Currently, the cost of producing clean energy in Lebanon is lower, with Electricité du Liban's electricity production cost being approximately US 14 cents per kilowatt-hour, compared to about US 30 cents per kilowatt-hour from private generators. The cost of producing electricity from clean energy, especially solar, is currently around USD6 or 7 cents per kilowatt-hour. Removing subsidies on electricity prices has given a significant boost to the clean and renewable energy market, resulting in the implementation of solar energy projects exceeding 1,500 megawatts by June 2024.

Government plans for implementing major projects in electricity production through solar energy include the construction of eleven solar power stations with a capacity of 15 megawatts each, totaling 165 megawatts, to be connected to Electricité du Liban and sold to the institution. It is estimated that clean and renewable energy will account for around 30 percent of national consumption by 2030.

The Ministry's goal is to install 3,000 megawatts of solar power farms by 2030, along with approximately 1,000 megawatts of wind farms, in addition to increasing solar water heating capacity and hydroelectric power. The Ministry will spare no effort to achieve and even exceed these targets. Finally, he emphasized the importance of initiatives such as the "Middle East Clean Energy" Exhibition and Conference in raising national awareness of the importance of green, environmentally clean energy."

The Minister, along with the directors general and guests, then proceeded to visit the exhibition and explore the latest technologies in the energy field. The "Middle East Clean Energy" Exhibition and Conference will continue on Thursday and Friday, May 8th and 9th, 2024, from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Hotel Phoenicia - Beirut. Admission is free, and attendance is open to all.