2023-12-06

TRIPOLI — The investigation looks into the blocks and obstacles that still prevent the expensive wastewater treatment facility in Lebanon from proper functioning.

Just a few meters away from the bustling vegetable market in Tripoli lies the sprawling wastewater treatment facility – the largest in Lebanon and one of the largest on the Mediterranean coast. With around 120 million euros invested and twenty years after commencing the work and its subsequent completion, this facility continues to operate at a minimum level, due to a shortage of wastewater inflow, and incomplete connections. The Tripoli facility safeguards the shoreline but fails to safeguard the sea, which does not fulfill either the EU’s or the Lebanese aspirations.


The ambitious projects, funded by the loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB), aimed to improve the lives and sanitation services of nearly one million Tripoli residents by introducing an advanced wastewater treatment facility. This facility was expected to significantly reduce water pollution in Northern Lebanon. However, two decades later, the project remains far from realising its intended objectives, marked by numerous stumbling blocks including the outbreak of the financial and political crisis in Lebanon in October 2019, and the involvement of questionable contractors.

Team members

Hala Nouhad Nasreddine

Hala Nouhad Nasreddine is a Lebanese journalist and the Investigative Unit Coordinator at Daraj Media.

Hala Nouhad Nasreddine

Søren Steensig

Søren Steensig is an editor and journalistm based in Copenhagen. 

Soren Steensig investigative journalist Denmark

Anders Palm Olesen

Anders Palm Olesen is an award-winning documentary maker.

Media

Daraj s.a.l.

Daraj is an independent digital media platform (Lebanon) created by experienced journalists.

Daraj

Globalnyt

Leading news service in Denmark, covers Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Oceania

Road2Films

Founded in 2007, Road2Films is a Lebanese production house specialized in producing educational, cultural, and social TV programs as well as documentaries, fiction films and TV Ads.

Road2Films
Mentor

Nils Hanson

Nils Hanson (Sweden) is an awarded freelance investigative editor.

Nils Hanson

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