BEIRUT: The Cabinet agreed Tuesday to increase the remuneration collected by gas stations on every 20 liters of gasoline sold and accepted the results of the second tender to build a second power plant in Deir Ammar.

Speaking to reporters after the session, Information Minister Walid Daouk said the Cabinet had acceded to the demands of gas station owners who felt that their remuneration had shrunk considerably after the price of fuel soared over the past few months.

Gas stations stress that most of their revenues come from remunerations collected on every 20 liters of gasoline.

Daouk declined to reply when asked whether the revision would have an impact on taxes on gasoline collected by the Finance Ministry.

Regarding the tender for the Deir Ammar power plant, the minister said: “The Cabinet also accepted the outcome of the tender to award contracts to the companies with winning bids to build a second power plant in Deir Ammar in the north.”

The statement did not name the companies that won the tender for the construction of the power plant.

Energy Minister Gibran Bassil said the tender was part of his plan to boost electricity production by 700 MW in less than two years.

The Cabinet also accepted the Energy Ministry’s request to offer Electricite du Liban an advanced payment of LL100 billion to settle the value added tax on fuel oil commodities.

Daouk said the Cabinet did not discuss the salary scale issue. Cabinet is expected to discuss the issue of the salary scale on March 21.

The ministers also agreed to transfer funds for contracting companies which carried out some work for the government.