The Ministry of Energy and Water responded in a clarification statement today to what the candidate for the parliamentary seat in Batroun, Majd Boutros Harb, said during a television interview on LBCI Channel, namely that the cost of the “Msailha” and “Balaa” dam projects amounted to one billion US dollars.
The Ministry clarified herein that the payments made on the Msailha Dam amounted to 69,130,000 US dollars and the Balaa Dam to 24,000,000 US dollars, making a total of approximately 90 million US dollars for both projects.
The Ministry’s statement also indicated that the works on both projects have been partially or completely suspended since October 17, 2019, whereby efforts are underway to secure the necessary funding for the remaining parts whether through the annual budget or international donors.
“The Ministry of Energy and Water urges all those interested in the file of dams to practice prudence when addressing this national and strategic issue and not to include it in the narrow corners of politics, and to derive technical and financial information from its correct sources,” the Ministry’s media office concluded in its statement.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon