Beirut port hires German company to dispose of 49 containers of flammable chemicals

and with damages estimated at $15 billion, fueled outrage over government corruption, incompetence, negligence and inaction. At least some of the chemicals the company will remove had been in storage at the port since 2009. Combi Lift, a German a heavy lift transport company, was already working in the port will ship the chemicals in special containers as part of a $3.6 million contract. Three months after the deadly explosions that destroyed most of Beirut port, Lebanon’s largest, it is increasing clear that the main foreign contenders to rebuild the geopolitically strategic facility in the Eastern Mediterranean will not invest hundreds of millions dollars/euros in a country where the predominant power is the Shi’ite movement Hezbollah. Hezbollah, acting as a spearhead for Iran in Syria’s civil war and across the region, is also facing public anger over the explosion in the port that obliterated part of the city and traumatised the country. The Shiite Muslim party Amal has the most influence in Beirut’s port, where 70% of the 3,000 employees are Shiite. Amal is an ally of Hezbollah. The rebuilding of the port is delayed and hampered by Lebanon’s political stalemate. France tops the list of candidates to rebuild the port (and part of the city), followed by China, Turkey, Russia, Kuwait and the United States. A PortSEurope analysis of the situation can be read here Copyright (C) PortSEurope. All Rights Reserved. 2020.