Qatar announces ‘massive’ solar plant project in Lebanon

What the report says

Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, said during a visit to Beirut on Friday that Doha plans to back a “massive” solar plant project in Lebanon as part of a wider effort to ease the country’s long-running energy crisis. He made the announcement after meeting Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and said the two sides had agreed to a broader framework for cooperation in the energy sector.

According to Al Jazeera, QatarEnergy has reached an agreement with France’s TotalEnergies to jointly develop an initial solar power plant project in Lebanon. Salam said the proposal would be presented to Lebanon’s cabinet and stressed that the Qatari side would fund and implement the project without cost to the Lebanese state. The plan comes as Lebanon continues to face severe electricity shortages, aging infrastructure and a deep financial crisis that has strained public utilities.

The Qatari leader also discussed security and reconstruction issues in meetings with Lebanon’s president and parliament speaker. Al Jazeera reported that he raised Israeli actions in southern Lebanon and said Qatar was working with the United States on future reconstruction planning so displaced residents could return home. The remarks came against the backdrop of continued Israeli attacks despite a ceasefire agreement and ongoing disputes over the disarmament of Hezbollah, underscoring how energy recovery and regional security remain closely linked in Lebanon.