Despite its insufficient infrastructure and capacity, the port of Tripoli, in northern Lebanon, is preparing to temporarily replace that of Beirut, which was the main gateway for imports into the country before being devastated by the explosion. murderer of August 4.
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Immediately after the tragedy, the Higher Defense Council in Lebanon ordered that the port of Tripoli be quickly ready to accommodate " import and export operations ". The authorities can also count on two smaller ports, those of Saïda and Tire in southern Lebanon, after the explosion at the port of Beirut due to a large amount of ammonium nitrate stored there.
Lebanon imports nearly 85% of its food, and the World Food Program said after the explosion to fear the exacerbation " of an already grim food situation, worsened by the country's deep financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic ". " The port of Tripoli can temporarily take the place of that of Beirut, the time that it resumes functioning normally, " told AFP, in his office, the director of the port of Tripoli Ahmad Tamer.
Work already in progress
He specifies that seven boats, which were heading for the port of Beirut on the day of the explosion, immediately changed their course to come unload their goods in Tripoli. Work was already underway to expand and increase the capacity of the port of Tripoli, with a view to transforming it into the main gateway for goods needed for the reconstruction of neighboring Syria when the time comes.
Mr. Tamer indicates that before the explosion of Beirut, the port of Tripoli was only operating at 40% of its capacity, and only accommodated two million tons per year while it can absorb up to five million . As it only received 80,000 containers per year while it can handle 300,000. The port of Tripoli, with an area of three square km, receives all kinds of goods except petroleum products, he said.
