An on-line Consultation Meeting was co-organised by the WES project and the Ministry of Environment (MoE) of Lebanon on the 19th of July 2022 to share and discuss with key stakeholders the proposed revisions of a set of National Environmental Guidelines and Emission Limit Values (ELVs) for specific industrial activities of the food and construction sectors. Although Lebanon is not considered an industrialized country, there are many industrial establishments of which several are not licensed.
The aim of the meeting was to launch a consultation process that will lead to these guidelines forming a Ministerial Decision to be issued by the MoE especially as such industries are prevalent in Lebanon and spread in numerous industrial zones across the country. In addition, the guidelines will be reference tools to assist operational and illegal industries to be legally and environmentally compliant and to guide those who want to install such plants in the future.
The results of the joint MoE and WES efforts on the revision of 10 environmental guidelines for the establishment and operation of industries within the food sector (dairy, slaughterhouses, cow farms, meat processing, beverages) and the construction sector (concrete masonry, cutting stone, asphalt, concrete, paints), were presented and discussed with more than 35 stakeholders from various ministries, authorities, academics, consulting firms, NGOs, and also experts and representatives from other donors, including the EUD. The consultation also included a first presentation of the new wastewater standards that are being developed by the MoE.
The participants expressed great interest in the results of the WES activities and renewed their commitment to contribute to the finalization and approval of the ten sectoral guidelines. The participants discussed the provisions of the guidelines and especially the conditions for their application and implementation, knowing the difficult situation in Lebanon and the challenges that industries are facing. Thus, the ability of industries to comply with new standards and adapt/modernize their infrastructures was at the center of the discussion. The next steps for the finalization of the guidelines and the new standard on wastewater and their publication by ministerial decree were also clarified by the representative of the Ministry of the Environment who also recalled that this whole process will be carried out in close coordination with the Ministry of Industry.
This activity is implemented with the support and services of GOPA Infra, LDK Consultants and MIO-ECSDE.
