Minister of Energy and Water Joe Al-Sadey began his tour of the Jezzine district, accompanied MPs Ghada Ayoub and Said Al-Asmar and the head of the Jezzine Region Municipal Union Bassam Romanos, at the Boulos Arkash Hydroelectric Power Plant in Qattaleh, affiliated with the Litani River National Authority. He was received by the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of the Litani River National Authority Sami Alawiyah, Director of Hydroelectric Investment Ghassan Gibran, the person in charge of following up on the World Bank Renewable Energy loan project, the head of the Boulos Arkash and Helou plants department Abbas Madlej, alongside employees, workers and daily wage earners of the two plants, in the presence of former MP Ibrahim Azar, the Lebanese Forces coordinator in Jezzine Dani Khater and a number of mayors of neighboring villages. During the visit, a technical presentation was given addressing the World Bank-funded renewable energy project and the importance of its components in updating and rehabilitating the hydroelectric production plants affiliated with the authority, and the works scheduled within the project and expected results in terms of raising production efficiency and improving operational reliability were also reviewed. The presentation also addressed the importance of the project to renew the cells of the Awali station and increase the number of its outlets from three to six, a project being implemented by Electricité du Liban, due to its role in expanding the scope of benefiting from hydroelectric power and securing electricity supply to an additional number of towns in the Jezzine district. The Minister was also briefed on the plans drawn up to develop the Jezzine irrigation project, and its role in enhancing water security and supporting the agricultural sector in the region. He pointed out that the first phase of the project, funded by a World Bank loan which includes the rehabilitation of this plant, has started with a tender to prepare the specifications book. In response to a question, Al-Sadey said: "Full support to President Joseph Aoun and the Prime Minister in their pursuit of the direct negotiations path in Washington and what was reached in the fifth round of the framework agreement. The state alone negotiates in the name of Lebanon and its people. Everyone present on Lebanese territory is inevitably forced to commit to the decisions of the state." In a speech, Alawiyah welcomed the Minister, stressing that "this visit reflects official interest in the renewable energy sector and in the hydroelectric plants affiliated with the Litani River National Authority, and it is the first by a Minister of Energy to the Boulos Arkash plant since 2010," considering that it constitutes an important milestone in supporting this vital facility. He commended "the efforts exerted by the Minister in activating the implementation of the World Bank renewable energy loan, particularly in accelerating the implementation of the components belonging to the Litani River National Authority, which contributes to developing the infrastructure for hydroelectric production and enhancing the contribution of renewable energy to the national electricity system." For her part, Ayoub considered that in light of the difficult conditions Lebanon is passing through as a result of the war and its repercussions, the state's return to carrying out its developmental role gains doubled importance. She added: "From here, I welcome the visit of His Excellency the Minister of Energy to the Jezzine region, which has suffered for long years from neglect, particularly in the electricity and water sectors." She concluded: "The project to expand and rehabilitate the Awali plant is not limited to developing a technical facility, but constitutes a real investment in the future of the region, as it will contribute to enhancing the capacity of the electricity grid and securing supply to additional towns in the Jezzine district, which is directly reflected in the lives of citizens and lays the foundation for long-awaited development." For his part, Al-Asmar thanked Al-Sadey for his visit to the Jezzine region to listen to the concerns and needs of its people, adding: "Our region has a model regarding hydroelectric power, and Minister Al-Sadey, despite climate change, is interested in clean energy and is putting effort with Electricité du Liban and the Litani River National Authority to benefit more from the hydroelectric plants and expand them if possible so they reach Jezzine, the gateway to the South, all the destroyed and sad South, and it returns to the fold of the state. Thus the Ministry of Energy returns to perform its duties after there were 'some treated favorably and others neglected,' so people live in dignity and their rights to water and electricity are provided to them." Afterwards, Al-Sadey and the delegation moved to Karkha where they visited the Shrine of Saint John the Baptist and were received by the Greek Catholic Archbishop of Sidon and Deir el-Qamar Elie Haddad, Karkha Mayor Jean Nakhle, Mukhtar Anwar Nassoura, town priest Walid Al-Deek and a gathering of residents. Following a tour of the place, a meeting was held with a number of mayors and mukhtars of neighboring villages. In conclusion, a commemorative gift was presented to Al-Sadey.