The clarifying statement from the management of the cable car company, in response to news and statements published in some newspapers, television screens, and social media, includes the following:
"First: Regarding the duration of the concession granted to the company, it has been reported incorrectly on television screens and in some newspapers that 'our company continues to operate the Jounieh-Harissa cable car despite the expiration of the concession given to it...'. In exercising our right to respond and clarify, we want to inform everyone that our company still legally invests in the cable car line within the concession period granted to it by the relevant authorities – which did not expire in 2022 as claimed… – based on:
A - Decree No. 15105 dated 1964/1/13, under which our company was initially granted a concession for fifty years from the mentioned date.
B - A decision from the State Consultative Council dated 2007/12/6 that suspended the concession period for 11 years, which was subsequently extended for an additional 11 years.
C - Also based on circular letter No. 1/1/A issued by the Ministry of Energy in 2021, which suspended the duration of several concessions – including ours – for a period of 16 months and 12 days, in implementation of the successive 'suspension of deadlines' laws since 2020. Thus, the concession period will end in April 2026.
Second: Regarding the incident that occurred on 2023/12/28 and the prompt handling of it, our company wants to assure the public first, that the mechanical failure that occurred at the ground level of the line (Station Fixe de Haret-Sakhr) did not result – thank God – in any injuries and/or human damage specifically to any of the passengers present in the cable cars. The management acted immediately and urgently to summon the Civil Defense and the Lebanese Army to assist its local technical team in the process of safely evacuating the stranded passengers from the cable cars under the usual global safety conditions. All passengers were evacuated professionally and safely, with the presence of the Lebanese Red Cross, for which we are grateful.
It is worth mentioning that the Civil Defense and the condition of the 'ground fixed station' in Haret Sakhr were involved, where one of the cable cars got stuck and stopped, leading to a collision with the next cable car directly behind it, both of which were empty of passengers."
It was also explained that the "automatic safety system" halted the cable car line's operation immediately upon the occurrence of the mentioned failure to prevent any additional damage to the line. The Lebanese Army intervened with all its equipment and capabilities to participate in the extraction operations, for which we are thankful.
Third: As for the mechanical failure that occurred on the cable car device, while waiting for the final technical report, it has become apparent so far that it is a 'potential mechanical failure'. The management of the company would like to clarify that its equipment is always and regularly subject to inspections and technical monitoring by a well-known international company – the French company 'BUREAU VERITAS-HALEC' – and continuously verified locally by the renowned Lebanese consulting company 'ECM'. Therefore, there is no need for concern regarding the resumption of operations normally and safely once the reasons for the mechanical failure are confirmed and repaired professionally under the supervision of the mentioned consulting companies, and, of course, under the ongoing care and protection of the Lady of Lebanon for our project.
This statement is necessitated to clarify and correct what has been misreported and said about 'the legality and duration of our concession,' as well as other details regarding the mentioned incident."
