Jbeil: Energy and Water Minister, Joe Saddi, visited the city of Jbeil and its district at the invitation of MP Ziad Al-Hawat, where he had a closer look at its prevailing conditions and conducted a “needs assessment” for the city and its surroundings to determine the priorities in cooperation with the concerned municipalities’ union.
According to National News Agency – Lebanon, at the Byblos Municipality building, talks focused on the city’s challenges and requirements, particularly regarding electricity, water supply, and infrastructure. Minister Saddi listened to the difficulties facing the municipality, emphasizing his ministry’s commitment to addressing these issues and finding solutions in cooperation with the municipalities and relevant institutions, stressing that “meeting the needs of the people remains a top priority for the government.”
Accompanied by MP Hawat, Saddi visited the Jbeil Electricity Company building, where they were briefed on the plans to build a fuel-powered plant and a solar power plant to provide electricity to residents in the villages and towns within the company’s service area. In this context, the Energy Minister promised to review these projects, along with other projects submitted by the company, and to explore the possibility of combining electricity and water bills to reduce the financial burden on residents. It was agreed that further meetings would be held at the Energy Ministry to discuss all these matters.
Saddi considered that the city of Byblos embodies a cultural heritage that every Lebanese cherishes, as it represents a civilization of which we are all proud. “Today, we strive not only to restore trust between citizens and the state, but also to reassert the true image of Lebanon-a Lebanon of history, culture, and a vibrant spirit. Jbeil is a living example of this image,” he maintained.
In turn, MP Hawat considered that “the region of Jbeil, both coastal and mountainous, needs significant development,” adding, “The water issue is fundamental and critical; there isn’t a single household that doesn’t have to buy water tanks weekly…We need a real plan to dig wells in the villages and towns.” ‘Until water supply is secured throughout Lebanon, decentralized electricity is essential for meeting people’s needs,” Hawat affirmed, noting that “in the Mount Lebanon region, there are agricultural, industrial, and tourism sectors, all of which require electricity and water.”