35,000 active engineers

Collaboration with Green Business
Council to spread awareness

The number of engineers who are member of the Beirut Order of Engineers and Architects (OEA) totaled 40,000 at the end of 2013. But only 35,000 of them are active, according to Sobhi Bissat, former Chairman of the Order. The Chairman was talking at a real estate workshop organized by the Real Estate Developers Association of Lebanon (REDAL), last week.

The number of electronic, electric, and telecom engineers reached 11,200. Civil engineers amounted to 10,000, and architects to 6,900. Mechanical engineers account for 4,500, agricultural for 2,200, and petrochemical for 430. “In the past, the majority of engineers were civil but now this has changed. We hope that when the exploration and production of oil and gas begins, geologic and petrochemical engineers will play a significant role in the process,” said Bissat.

The Order is also finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lebanon Green Building Council (LGBC), to increase awareness and understanding of green standards in buildings. Through the MoU, the LGBC will be providing training seminars targeting engineers, architects and technicians from all disciplines.

“We already gave a first training on building envelope. Some 30 participants attended the training session, 12 of which were university students,” said Aram Yeretzian, Chairman of the LGBC.