The Minister of Economy and Trade in the caretaker government, Amin Salam, received the Minister of Public Works and Transport in the caretaker government, Ali Hamiyeh, in his office to follow up on the issue of building silos and food security.
Following the meeting, Minister Salam stated: "I discussed with Minister Hamiyeh the topic of silos and the food security directly related to them. Concerned with the Public Works Ministry and its partnership in this national issue that protects the national and food security in the country, we invited our partner in constructing the silos in Tripoli and Beirut ports, Minister Hamiyeh, with whom we cooperate on this file. Unfortunately, the other members of the Food Security Committee could not join us due to prior commitments, and we wished for their presence to announce some very important steps concerning food security, with silos being the backbone of this subject, safeguarding Lebanon's strategic stock of grains.”
He added: "Today, we informed Minister Hamiyeh that, as a result of diligent work and continuous cooperation, we have completed the conditions document for the construction of silos in Tripoli port on the designated land. Minister Hamiyeh will discuss this matter in detail, and the conditions document will be ready for launch. Investors will be invited to take part in this important opportunity early next week.”
He continued: "We also informed Minister Hamiyeh that, while working on the general plan for Beirut Port in the next phase, a site of 25,000 square meters has been designated for the construction of new silos in Beirut Port, which Minister Hamiyeh will elaborate on. We thank him for his support and partnership in this issue due to its significance for food and national security during this critical phase.”
Minister Salam confirmed that "this work is one of the few efforts to reassure citizens that the state is keen on providing the essentials for living, particularly regarding food security, in which we can act and provide positive results for a nation that is in dire need of them.”
For his part, Minister Hamiyeh said: "The issue of food security falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Economy and Trade; we have taken data from them, which indicates a need for storage of 360,000 tons—120,000 tons for Beirut port, 120,000 tons for Tripoli port, and 120,000 tons for the Bekaa region. We have been working at the Ministry of Public Works to prepare the necessary condition documents, especially since the Lebanese state’s situation does not allow for constructing silos. Thus, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, we have completed the conditions document for building silos at Tripoli port over an area of 36,000 square meters, and on Monday we will launch the bid to involve the private sector, making this matter reformative as we state that the private sector must play a fundamental role while adhering to the prevailing laws.”
He added: "As for Beirut Port, it is confirmed to be on an area of 25,000 square meters, approximately parallel to the existing silos. Minister Salam has made the necessary contacts based on a promise from one of the countries that has announced its intention to construct the silos in Beirut port. Regarding securing the land, we have allocated it in the reconstruction plan, and in less than a month we will announce the reconstruction plan for Beirut port. The preparation of condition documents for the plan remains, and at its core is food security, defining the framework and method of providing food to the citizens. We are partners with the Ministry of Economy in the construction process due to its very high importance, comparable to electricity and water.”
In response to a question, Hamiyeh said: "Let’s be positive. For the preparation of the conditions document, some requested hundreds of thousands of dollars, yet we prepared the conditions document for free, so the intention is there.”
Regarding who will apply for the tender, Hamiyeh stated: "I don't know; it is my role to convince investors. I offer them an opportunity, according to the laws, to build and manage under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy, especially since they have always wished to invest in Lebanon. If they do not come and invest based on political guidance, that does not concern me.”
He added: "What I want to say is that revenues from Beirut port have risen from $400,000 to $10 million. We have fulfilled our promises. If someone is under political pressure and does not want to invest in Tripoli port, that is not my fault but the fault of those preventing them from investing, as well as those who have the funds but do not want to invest.”
Hamiyeh confirmed that "Tripoli Port is a public institution, and the Public Procurement Authority is the sole partner of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport in tenders and bidding. We did not face pressure for political allocation; on the contrary, everyone is supportive across various terms and positions.”
### Questions and Answers
In response to a question, Minister Salam reiterated: "I confirm that the desired goal is to carry out the work, and I tell the Lebanese citizens today that the backbone of food security is through building a strategic stock in the country by having grains available. Together with the Ministry of Public Works, we have bridged words with actions by undertaking this step after diligent work for nine months, and we have prepared a conditions document without any cost to the state, having selected some locations. This is not an easy task. We are about to launch it next week, and we hope to attract investors to these facilities, which we consider vital maritime anchors in Tripoli and Beirut, whether they are foreign or local investors. This tender will translate into the interest and partnership of the private sector in Lebanon in rebuilding this nation and supporting food security.”
For his part, Minister Hamiyeh affirmed this as "an opportunity to involve the private sector that spends from its own money, not the state’s funds. The state will not pay anything; the time has passed when a private sector could operate using state money.”
Minister Salam explained that "the wheat that arrives is unloaded and immediately transferred to mills, where it is ground and then delivered to bakeries.” He emphasized that "our goal, like the rest of the world, is to ensure food security for a period ranging from 9 months to a year across the three facilities, with Tripoli port providing 120,000 tons covering 3-4 months, Beirut port also 120,000 tons for the same period, and a third site yet to be determined also at 120,000. Thus, we will cover 12 months of food security in the country.”
He stated: "Today, regionally and internationally, with the Black Sea issues and the seen risks, we cannot anticipate what will happen due to the Ukrainian war, as Lebanon has gone through unfortunate experiences when subjected to a maritime blockade. With any maritime blockade, we will lose food security and any presence of grains. It is essential to expedite completing this file, as without a strategic stock in the country, Lebanon remains vulnerable and its food security is in danger. If we complete Tripoli and later Beirut, along with the site in the Bekaa to be determined later.”
The Minister of Public Works denied that a company had taken over Beirut Port for its reconstruction, stating: "Everything we have seen through the media since the August 4 disaster regarding donations and reconstruction has been mere talk; no one has offered a donation, loan, or official document to support the port's reconstruction."
He added: "We are moving towards reconstructing the port, and we are on the verge of launching a reconstruction plan. Conditions documents will be open for all; the companies that made verbal promises have the field available; if they do not take action, we will build from the port's revenues. We are entering $10 million in cash monthly, and we will build based on this amount without needing anyone.”
He continued: "Regarding the old silos, we need to check their foundations. We have chosen the Khalil and Salimi company because they submitted a report to the Council of Ministers in April and May 2022, and there is continuity in the file. The issue lies on the southern side, and we must verify whether the foundations are sound.” He noted that we need to pay $200,000 to "Khalil and Salimi" to bring in a company to assess underground conditions, and currently, the financial matters are known.
He announced that "our revenues at the port and airport are subject to the budget law, and we transfer them to the public treasury; we have no right to dispose of those revenues, nor do we want that freedom. This matter is practical; whoever informs us that the southern silos are sound should officially sign new maps, not just announce through the media. There is a public safety responsibility. The new silos will be parallel to the old ones, as part of the reconstruction plan for the port soon.”
He mentioned: "The cost of building silos at Tripoli port exceeds $20 million, as in Beirut, and we are waiting for the companies. We have specified the number of years for investment and how to share profits with the state. While we want the private sector to build, in matters of food security, in partnership with the Ministry of Economy, we will earn more profits through a transparent process under the supervision of the Public Procurement Authority, even if Beirut port is not subject to the accounting bureau, yet since Tripoli port is a public institution, we consider all funds in the Ministry of Public Works to be public funds, and all public funds must be subject to monitoring by the state’s regulatory agencies."
