BEIRUT, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Energy and Water Minister Walid Fayad on Wednesday launched a new tender for the construction of an 8-megawatt (MW) solar power plant using photovoltaic cells, the National News Agency reported.

Fayad announced that the project will be funded by the ministry's budget and connected to Lebanon's national grid. The plant, to be built along the Beirut River, will be Lebanon's largest solar energy project.

The Ministry of Energy noted that a 1-MW solar plant previously established along the same river has been operating efficiently.

Lebanon currently has 1,500 MW of installed solar capacity, which meets 20 percent of the country's energy needs. The ministry plans to increase this share to 55 percent in the future.

The ministry called on companies in the solar sector to participate in the tender, with offers due within 45 days.

The lack of electricity in Lebanon has been a chronic problem that has cost the treasury over 40 percent of its sovereign debt.

Lebanon's electricity crisis has been exacerbated in the past five years by the country's shortage of U.S. dollars, which limits its capacity to import fuel for the operation of existing power stations. Most of Lebanon's residents rely on private generators and solar panels to obtain electricity for most of their day and night hours. Enditem

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