OREANDA-NEWS. June 14, 2012. Prime Minister Mykola Azarov instructed the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine, within ten days to send experts to the Lebanese Republic to study Lebanese small hydropower plants. This order the Head of Ukrainian Government gave during a meeting with the Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Lebanon Gebran Bassil, which was held in Kiev.

"I assign the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry within ten days to send a team of specialists to Lebanon to survey stations. As a result of this trip to report me personally", - said Mykola Azarov after the Lebanese Minister invited the Ukrainian specialists to help his country with the reconstruction and modernization of old small hydro power plants.

"In Lebanon, there are many old small hydro power plants, which require repair and modernization. All water resources in our country are under evaluation. Given the experience of Ukraine in this sphere, we would like to see a group of Ukrainian technicians in Lebanon and looked at those old hydroelectric and proposed a plan to restore them. We intend to restore these old plants"- said Gebran Bassil, adding that his country had also considered the issue of new construction and hydroelectric power.

At the same time the Minister of Energy and Water Resources said that Lebanon is interested in Ukrainian turbines of small capacity, "There are no turbines of low power in Lebanon at all, while Ukraine has experience in this field. Lebanon - a good market for these turbines. We are waiting for suggestions from Ukrainian companies to supply the turbines to Lebanon".

"Ukraine could become the first country with which we have made such arrangements and would like them to step up. Now the initiative in the hands of Ukrainian companies and we look forward proposals" - Gebran Bassil said.

In addition, the Minister said that he invited the Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Yuriy Boyko in July to attend an energy conference in Lebanon, where will be focused on exploration of gas deposits in the sea.

Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Lebanon said that his country intends to implement a project to build a gas pipeline and a terminal for liquefied natural gas, "We have invited the Ukrainian side to take part in tenders." In addition, Lebanon is considering the possibility of importing gas for domestic purposes: "We would like to diversify suppliers of the gas to Lebanon. Also we expect proposals from the Ukrainian side on this issue.