The Government of Lebanon has announced the launch of an auction to reconstruct the Port of Beirut following the explosion that killed more than 200 people.
“Reconstruction will start after the completion of a master plan prepared in cooperation with the World Bank, in order to ensure that we make use of every square metre of the port,” Lebanese Public Works and Transport Minister, Ali Hamieh told a press conference on 8 June.
His remarks came on the occasion of a cooperation agreement signed between Omar Itani, Director of Port of Beirut, and his French counterpart Herve Martel, Head of the Port of Marseille.
Hamieh said the agreement aims at exchanging technical expertise between the two ports to improve the service quality of Beirut port and add new services to the facility, eventually increasing public revenues.
More than 200 people died and 4,000 were injured following the explosion in Beirut on 4 August 2020.
After a halt that left Lebanon without its main trade gateway, operations at the Beirut container terminal resumed on 13 August.
According to an assessment, physical damages to the Lebanese environment sector were between $20 – 25 million, with recovery and reconstruction needs estimated at $75 = $100 million.