Latest news with #PublicWorksandTransport
L'Orient-Le Jour
2 days ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Rassamny promises 'radical solutions' to power Beirut's airport
After RHIA experienced a power outage lasting several hours, likely caused by the ongoing heat wave affecting Lebanon, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced Wednesday that Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rassamny is working closely with Energy and Water Minister Joe Saddi and Électricité du Liban to "address the repercussions of the outage and implement radical solutions to ensure a stable and reliable energy supply." Since Tuesday, online reports have documented temporary outages of power and air conditioning at RHIA. A video posted on the " Instagram page, affiliated with the Saudi news network Al-Arabiya, showed long lines of people suffering from the heat at the airport, sparking criticism in the comments section. "Like every summer..." one user commented, while another wrote: "No generator? Even with the most expensive tickets, the service is the worst." Others, however, downplayed the severity of the incident. One user noted that she had just been at the airport and that "everything went off without a hitch." RHIA experiencing 'busiest season' of the year Civil Aviation confirmed the outage Wednesday, emphasizing that it happened "in the midst of a heat wave and as the airport is seeing its busiest travel season of the year." The outage impacted air conditioning capacity during a period when departures reached nearly 20,000 passengers per day, almost twice last month's average, while arrivals are around 14,000 per day. This coincides with the departure of many pilgrims to Iraq for 'Arbaeen,' marking 40 days after the commemoration of Ashura — the anniversary of Caliph Hussein's death, grandson of Prophet Muhammad and the third Shiite imam. On this occasion, "around 12,000 people were expected to depart this week and scheduled to return at the end of the week, in addition to the arrival of about 8,000 Iraqi tourists, taking advantage of offers launched by airlines to fill inbound flights," the statement continued. "Faced with this exceptional pressure on airport facilities, the public works and transport minister is 'closely coordinating' with his colleague from the energy and water minister and the public supplier EDL 'to address the repercussions of the outage and implement radical solutions that ensure a stable and reliable energy supply.'" Additionally, the Directorate General expressed its "regrets for any inconvenience or delay caused to passengers or airport staff" and affirmed its "cooperation with relevant authorities to ensure the stability of operations at the airport," while praising the "patience" of travelers and the "exceptional efforts" of RHIA staff and members of the various security services.
L'Orient-Le Jour
2 days ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Power outage repercussions at Beirut's airport are being addressed: Civil Aviation
BEIRUT — After the Rafik Hariri International Airport (RHIA) experienced hours of electricity outage probably caused by the current heatwave affecting Lebanon, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation stated on Wednesday that Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamni is closely coordinating with Energy and Water Minister Joe Saddi and Électricité du Liban to "address the repercussions of the outage and implement radical solutions that ensure a stable and reliable power supply." Some accounts reported temporary power and air-conditioning outages. A video posted by the Instagram page " affiliated with the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya news network, featured long queues of people suffering from heat at the airport, sparking condemnations from users in the comments section. "Like every summer..." one user claimed, while another wrote: "There is no generator? Even with the highest [most expensive] plane tickets, the service is the worst." However, some downplayed the severity of what happened; for instance, a user said that she was just at the airport and "everything went so smoothly." On Wednesday, the Civil Aviation confirmed the power outage: "Amid a severe heatwave, and with the airport recording its peak travel season this year, Rafik Hariri International Airport experienced a power outage that affected its air conditioning capacity, at a time when the number of departures rose to around 20,000 passengers per day, nearly double last month's average, while the number of arrivals reached around 14,000 per day." "This coincided with the departure of a large numbers of passengers to Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, with around 12,000 people expected to leave this week and return at the end of it, in addition to the arrival of around 8,000 Iraqi tourists, taking advantage of offers launched by airlines to fill incoming flights," the Civil Aviation statement added. "In light of this exceptional pressure on airport facilities, Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamni is coordinating closely with Energy and Water Minister Joe Saddi and Électricité du Liban to address the repercussions of the outage and implement radical solutions that ensure a stable and reliable power supply," reads the statement. Moreover, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation expressed its "regret for any inconvenience or delay caused to passengers or airport staff" and affirmed its "cooperation with the relevant authorities to ensure the stability of operations at the airport." "The Directorate also appreciates the understanding and patience of travelers and commends the exceptional efforts made by airport staff, security agencies, and service providers during these difficult hours," the statement concludes.
MTV Lebanon
2 days ago
- MTV Lebanon
Directorate General of Civil Aviation: Rasamny coordinating with Saddi, EDL to address airport power outage and ensure stable supply
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced that amid an intense heatwave and at the peak of this year's travel season, Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport experienced a power outage that reduced the facility's air-conditioning capacity. The disruption came as the number of daily departures reached about 20,000 passengers, nearly double last month's average, while arrivals stood at roughly 14,000 per day. The statement noted that this surge coincided with a significant flow of travelers heading to Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, with an estimated 12,000 expected to depart this week and return by its end. In parallel, around 8,000 Iraqi tourists are projected to visit Lebanon, encouraged by airline promotions to fill inbound flights. Against this backdrop of exceptional pressure on airport facilities, Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny is working in close coordination with Minister of Energy and Water Joe Saddi, and Électricité du Liban to address the outage's impact and implement lasting solutions to secure a stable and reliable power supply, preventing future incidents. The Directorate expressed regret for any inconvenience or delays affecting passengers or staff, affirmed its cooperation with relevant authorities to maintain operational stability, and praised travelers' patience alongside the extraordinary efforts of airport personnel, security forces, and service teams during the challenging hours.
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Japan donates 1.5 billion yen in high-tech road maintenance equipment to boost Lao infrastructure
Japanese Ambassador Koizumi Tsutomu (left) gives a symbolic vehicle key to Minister of Public Works and Transport, Leklay Sivilay. - Vientiane Times/ANN VIENTIANE: The Japanese government has donated road and bridge maintenance equipment worth 1,500 million yen (US$69,424) to Laos to help improve the country's infrastructure and support sustainable road development. The funds were handed over on August 8 at the Road No. 8 Construction State Enterprise in Tanmixay village, Xaythany district, Vientiane, underscoring Japan's ongoing commitment to Laos' socio-economic growth. The equipment was provided by the government of Japan under the 2023 socio-economic development project. The event was attended by the Vice President of the National Assembly, Sommad Pholsena. Speaking on the occasion, the Japanese Ambassador to Laos, Koizumi Tsutomu, highlighted Japan's long-standing support for infrastructure development in Laos, including landmark projects such as the Second Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, the Pakse Bridge, the Xekong Bridge, and the renovation of Wattay International Airport and Road No. 1 in Vientiane. He noted that these structures have gradually deteriorated over time and explained that, in response to a request from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the Japanese government had provided US$10 million for the procurement of a full set of heavy construction machinery. This equipment is intended to enhance and prolong the lifespan of roads across the country. Minister of Public Works and Transport, Leklay Sivilay, accepted the donation and expressed his gratitude. He said the ministry had requested the equipment, marking the second time it had received such assistance from the Japanese government. The goal is to repair and upgrade roads that have been damaged by severe weather, using modern, efficient and environmentally friendly machinery. Leklay pledged to use the equipment to its maximum potential for sustainable infrastructure development and to strengthen Laos' state enterprises. The equipment has been handed over to three state enterprises under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to enhance their operational capacity and help them become model state-owned enterprises in the fields of road survey, improvement, maintenance and construction, in order to gradually improve the quality of roads across Laos. - Vientiane Times/ANN
L'Orient-Le Jour
27-07-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Aug. 4 inquiry, Gaza war: Metropolitan Audi slams leaders' silence
BEIRUT — Greek Orthodox Archbishop Elias Audi on Sunday criticized leaders for staying silent about the Aug. 4, 2020 Beirut port explosion, as a judge nears issuing an indictment after recent hearings. Among those summoned, two refused to appear before Judge Tarek Bitar: former minister Ghazi Zeaiter, cited over the unloading and storage of the ammonium nitrate that caused the blast while he was Public Works and Transport minister — which oversees the port — and former prosecutor-general Ghassan Oueidat. Recalling that Lebanon will mark in a few days the fifth anniversary of the Aug. 4 disaster, which left more than 220 dead and 6,500 wounded, Archbishop Audi criticized the fact that 'many are those who close their eyes to truth and justice and remain silent out of fear, cowardice, complicity or personal interest.' Bitar's investigation has been stymied, since its launch in 2021, by numerous lawsuits and objections filed against him by various officials he has prosecuted. 'Is it permissible to starve people' in Gaza? From St. George's Cathedral in downtown Beirut, the metropolitan also condemned the silence of leaders in the face of the region being 'submerged in blood and tears.' 'The world is blind; it does not see the deaths of children or the suffering of innocents because it is steeped in evil and sin, and far from God,' he said. 'Is it permissible to starve people, to displace them from their land or to kill them? What has blinded the eyes of the world's leaders and silenced their conscience to the point that they remain silent about what is happening on the land of Christ?' he added, alluding to the ongoing bloody Israeli offensive in Gaza, which has left tens of thousands dead, and to the enclave's blockade amid cries of famine. Numerous organizations have in recent days warned of a rise in cases of malnutrition, mainly among children, while the international community has pressured Israel to allow in aid, which finally took place to a limited extent Sunday with air drops and permission for trucks to enter the besieged territory from the Egyptian side of the border.
