U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly encouraged Energy Minister Gebran Bassil Tuesday to maintain his commitment to enacting fair and transparent regulations to develop the energy and water sectors. According to a statement released by the U.S. embassy, Connelly met with Bassil at his office in Karantina where she renewed her country’s commitment to a stable, sovereign and independent Lebanon. Lebanon has been suffering from severe power rationing the past few months due to maintenance work at power plants and a strike by contract workers with Electricite Du Liban that began over two months ago.