Siemens Energy is offering to provide electricity for Lebanon following a massive explosion earlier last week in the capital Beirut which left many dead and injured and caused widespread destruction, the company announced in a statement on Wednesday.
The company pledged to supply a total of 80 MW electricity for about 150,000 people, 10% of Beirut鈥檚 population.
Siemens Energy will provide two mobile SGT-A45 gas turbines that can help secure emergency electric power for the city.
鈥淕iven the damage to the local infrastructure, vital services like hospitals urgently need reliable electric power, and this fast solution could provide significant support for the city and its population,鈥� according to the statement.
The company said the delivery and startup would take place in the next six to 12 weeks.
鈥淭he two units are to be provided for one year free of charge. The use of these units will be worth about US$40 million a year,鈥� it added.
鈥淲e鈥檙e ready to secure a reliable, affordable supply of electricity for the people of Lebanon and help them rebuild their country,鈥� Christian Bruch, Siemens Energy CEO, was quoted as saying in the statement.
At least 200 lives were lost in the explosion on Aug. 4 that ripped through the Lebanese capital after a warehouse with 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate caught fire. Some 6,000 people were injured and 300,000 others rendered homeless.
The blast came as Lebanon deals with a severe financial crisis in addition to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Middle Eastern country is under turmoil since late last October when plans to increase taxes forced former premier Saad Hariri to leave office.
By Gokce Topbas and Sibel Morrow
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr