In a statement, the US embassy indicated that “US Ambassador Dorothy Shea met Energy Minister Walid Fayyad.”

Shea spoke after the meeting, explaining that there had been “great progress in terms of regional energy contracts, which the United States of America has always been keen to move forward.”

She also stressed, “Her country’s attempt to obtain humanitarian aid, and to provide real daily aid to the Lebanese people, who have long been suffering from lack of energy and electricity cuts.”

She added, “We are pleased to be able today to make additional progress towards Lebanon’s obtaining gas from Egypt, and Lebanon’s obtaining electricity from the surplus electricity on the Jordanian network.”

“We are pleased with the progress we are making and grateful for the hard work,” she said.