The grain silos at Beirut port were destroyed by the Aug. 4, 2020 explosion. (Credit: Zeina Antonios)
BEIRUT — The recycling of wheat grains from the destroyed silos at the Beirut port has begun, the ministries of economy and environment jointly announced Tuesday.
Here’s what we know:
• The grain which was spilled at the port by the Aug. 4, 2020 explosion has over the past few months been separated from the rubble, sorted and disinfected before being sent to several factories in Lebanon to be transformed into compost or heating pellets.
• “The recycling has begun at no cost to the Treasury,” the ministries said in a statement. They explained that the grains will either be fermented to create compost or turned into pellets “in cooperation with the French company in charge of solving the problem of rubble at the port, the silo administration, the municipality of Zahle and three Lebanese companies.”
• Of the total grain evacuated from the port, 511 tons were sent to a factory in Zahle, another 50 tons to a company in Bkassine in South Lebanon, 980 tons to Chabtine in the Batroun area and 1,580 tons to Hammana in Mount Lebanon, the statement added.
• This grain recycling project, which has received public funding from the French authorities to the tune of 1.4 million euros, was officially launched in July 2021.