The Lebanese Ministries of Finance (MoF) and Energy & Water (MoEW) have recently signed an agreement with the World Bank (WB)'s regional director for a second water supply project in Greater Beirut, valued at circa US$ 257.8 million. The project is expected to complete the work initiated under the first loan to supply the capital and Mount Lebanon with water from the Awali River.  This loan was approved by the WB’s Board of Directors and complements a first project, which was approved in 2010 for an amount of US$ 370 million, for the same region and aimed to supply Beirut and Mount Lebanon with water from the Awali River. The new funding is set to allow the completion of major infrastructure started under the first project as well as additions to the Wardanieh water treatment plant in Chouf in a bid to improve water quality and address the expected increase in pollution at certain times of the year.  According to the WB, this project aims to increase water supply coverage for 1.8 million people living in Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon, thus significantly reducing dependence on private tanker trucks, which are up to ten times more costly than running water. According to the forecasts established by the institution, this investment in infrastructure is set to increase surface water supply to cover on average 70% of demand during the dry season, compared to only 24% currently. The project is also aiming to support the implementation of the water sector reform program in Lebanon.  The WB has previously stated that although Lebanon benefits from one of the highest levels of rainfall in the Middle East and North Africa region, the country faces regular water shortages. This comes mostly on the back of seasonal concentration of rains, the lack of surface water storage and network maintenance issues related to successive crises. The WB warned against the impact of climate change on this situation, which could halve water availability in the dry season by 2040 and intensify floods and droughts. (ICE BEIRUT)

Fonte notizia: Bank Audi, Lebanon Weekly Monitor, 23-29 June 2025