A solitary worker is sitting amidst the wreckage at the Beirut port, June 27, 2024. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT—Caretaker Public Works Minister Ali Hamieh announced on Thursday that Lebanon will commence selling the scrap metal debris resulting from the deadly Aug. 4 Beirut port explosion as of next week — this initiative is part of the port's "reconstruction and rehabilitation" efforts that began in September.
During a press conference at the Beirut port, Hamieh announced that the initiative will free up "more than 150,000 square meters" of land at the port, creating the opportunity for local and international companies to invest in the area.
The blast, caused by the detonation of large quantities of ammonium nitrate stored improperly in a port warehouse, killed at least 235 people, injured 6,500 others, and devastated entire neighborhoods of the capital. The Lebanese investigation into the disaster, led by Judge Tarek Bitar, has been at a standstill since February 2023 amid political interference from several sides.
Wreckage and scrap metal debris at the Beirut port, June 27, 2024. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today)
At the Beirut port premises, the crumbling skeletal structure of the grain silos, which once stood tall over the port, welcome you.
Surrounding the silos is an extensive debris field, with piles of twisted metal, rubble, and other wreckage scattered across the area, highlighting the scale and intensity of the blast that rocked the port. The debris is remnants of shipping containers, hangar structures and other cargo handling equipment like cranes and loading equipment. The rubble likely includes remnants of concrete from destroyed port buildings and warehouses.
“The Public Procurement Authority has landed on a certain company which will commence its work starting next week to remove all scrap metal debris remaining at the port,” Hamieh said on Thursday.
A Lebanese company called Concord has won the tender to remove the scrap metal, which the Public Works Ministry launched in September, port director Omar Itani, who was also present at Thursday's press conference, told L'Orient Today.
L'Orient Today reached out to the spokesperson of the public works minister but he could not provide more information about the company.
This process "will bring extra revenue to the Lebanese state treasury," Hamieh said.
Caretaker Public Works Minister Ali Hamieh holds a press conference at the Beirut port, June 27, 2024. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today)
Each ton of metal will be sold for "$245," Itani told L'Orient Today, adding that it has been difficult to accurately determine the exact quantity of metal debris at the port. However, based on aerial images, the estimated range is between "9,000 and 25,000 tons" of scrap metal.
"The area designated for collecting metal scraps will be monitored by security personnel and cameras to ensure that weighing and loading procedures are completed while adhering to all legal and customs transactions and procedures," Itani said.
Hamieh also reiterated that Beirut port has been operating at full capacity.
Additionally, Hamieh said that the ministry is exploring a procedure to remove "approximately 1100" wrecked cars from the port, which were destroyed in the explosion. "An international tender will be announced soon to address this issue, which will free up more land areas."
He indicated that the proceeds from the scrap metal sales will fund “a company tasked with conducting soil topography assessments at the port to ensure it aligns with the favorable conditions.”
Extensive debris field, with piles of twisted metal surround the crumbling silos at the Beirut port, June 27, 2024. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today)
The explosion in 2020 resulted from the detonation of tons of ammonium nitrate, a combustible chemical compound commonly used in agriculture as a high-nitrate fertilizer, but also capable of being used to manufacture explosives.
“We are also in the process of finalizing a set of conditions for inspecting sidewalks eight, nine and 10, which comprise the explosion's center. This will help us determine whether we can rehabilitate them and build on top of them," Hamieh said.