Media Office Walid Fayad: Minister Saddi could have canceled the tender had he not been convinced of its suitability
Despite the accusatory tone adopted by the media office of the current Minister of Energy and Water, Mr. Joe Saddi, the substance of the statement issued on June 6 confirms the position previously expressed by former Minister Dr. Walid Fayad during his interview with MTV. Specifically, it affirms that the current minister was indeed the one who signed the fuel supply agreement with Iraq for the fourth consecutive year and also signed the $200 million contract with the supplying company. It is worth noting that he could have canceled the tender initiated by Minister Fayad had he not deemed it appropriate. This amount will be added to the debt owed to Iraq.
As of June 2025—four months after Minister Fayad left office and the ministry was handed over to Minister Saddi—the total amount owed to Iraq has reached $750 million. At the time of the ministerial handover, the outstanding amount was lower, standing at $600 million, precisely as Dr. Fayad had stated.
Dr. Fayad concluded by reaffirming that the severe conditions Lebanon has endured—and continues to endure—alongside the lack of viable alternatives to ensure the minimum required level of electricity supply at the lowest possible cost, necessitated recourse to Iraqi fuel and the acceptance of Iraq’s generous and appreciated initiative. Accordingly, based on the principle of continuity in government and Minister Saddi’s conviction of the soundness of the decisions made in this regard—and until more suitable fuel supply alternatives, especially natural gas, become available—Minister Saddi found no viable course of action other than to renew the Iraqi agreement and proceed with awarding the first fuel delivery contract.
