The step also comes as the Ministry plans to replace all existing lamps in offices and households with cost saving CFL light bulbs as part of a strategic reform policy it plans to carry out to end the power crisis in the country.

Lebanon has a current installed capacity of 1,500 MW, which it plans to raise to more than 4,000 MG by 2015.

Ministry officials refused to unveil the name and the identity of the company. “We do not want to advertise this company,” they said.

Six companies have offered their bids for the contract, and three were chosen by the Ministry. The selected company, unnamed, was selected based on an evaluation process “for it had provided the cheapest offer”, the Ministry said in a statement.

The total cost of the contract was LL6.8 billion ($4.5 million), the Ministry said, announcing that the first bunch of light bulbs (500,000 bulbs) will be supplied in four weeks from the signing date.

The second bunch totaling- two and a half million- lamps, would be supplied in ten weeks, the statement said.