Al Ghadir wastewater plant funding approved

$75 million by EIB to
expand existing facility

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved $75 million to expand the Al Ghadir wastewater treatment plant, located south of Beirut.

The funds will be used for the expansion of the existing wastewater preliminary treatment plant and its conversion into a primary treatment plant and for the construction and upgrade of sewer networks in the catchment area. Primary treatment is the removal of settled organic and inorganic solids by sedimentation.

Al Ghadir plant covers Beirut and the Caza of Baabda, most of Aley, and part of Shouf, representing 40 percent of the population. The facility provides sanitation to a population of around 1 million inhabitants. It is currently partially operational.

The loan will only cover part of the $160 million required to restore and expand the facility. The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) is in talks with the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR), the agency in charge of the project, to provide additional funds for the facility.