The Ministry of Industry “threatens” soil companies: imports are suspended

Three companies in Lebanon have a monopoly on the cement market: National Turaba Company – Sabaa Cement, Lafarge – Holcim and Taraba Siblin. These companies form a “state” that extends control over their areas of existence, until they define political and municipal options in them, and their influence “does not break” no matter how strong the voices of opposition to their environmental and environmental violations are. Health. All three companies are entitled to “protection”, a decree issued in 1993 that prohibits the importation of cement without prior authorization from the Ministry of Industry. However, importing is not an easy process, since 1985 high customs duties of 75% and a rate of 10% for domestic consumption have been imposed. It has been endowed with all the elements of “constancy” internally, so that it no longer finds “shame” for working through temporary permits contrary to the law, and does not undertake to rehabilitate quarries -for example-. It is striking that this “pride” given to cement companies is denied to other industries that the state does not incur a bill. Health and the environment are expensive, and thousands of people also live off them.

The day before yesterday, the Minister of Industry Imad Hob Allah threatened to withdraw the protection of the three companies and open the door to the import of cement, after the price of one ton on the “black market” reached more than one million and 300 thousand pounds, while the official price was fixed, with 240 thousand lire (without VAT) per ton. The Ministry of Industry issued a statement, stating that “as a consequence of the non-commitment of the soil companies with the content of the agreement that was reached with the Environment Commission, and with the presidency of the government six weeks ago and not subscribing to it , the Ministry of Industry calls on all those who wish to import land to leave it at the beginning of next week to obtain import licenses, provided that the imported material has the required specifications and standards and is competitively priced. But the love of God attached his statement to the tweets explaining that “soil companies are opening their doors to sell their stocks of soil, starting Monday, February 8 … Soil factories must ensure a fair distribution and sell to citizens at the official price. “The reason for the last point in the words of the love of God is that the land companies” hide “behind the merchants – and obtain goods for sale directly from the companies – who distribute the cement material, which is they They sell at “black market” prices.
It is not the first time that the love of God seems to appeal to importance. Last July, with the cessation of “Seven” and “Lafarge-Holcim” in exchange for the monopoly of “Siblin” of the market, the price of a ton of cement exceeded 650 thousand pounds, and the price of a bag of “earth white” increased from 18,000 pounds to 270,000 pounds. God can “grant import permits to meet the needs of the market”, without his proposal having any scope. It is clear that the companies did not care about any measures taken against them, and they continued to impose their agenda on the Lebanese state, until the love of God was forced to withdraw again the import option to the forefront. Repetition of the threat without implementation will, over time, become a “mockery” of the monopolists. Will the Ministry of Industry once again expose its “prestige” to a break if it decides to back down on the import option? A follower of the cement file comments that “the decision of the Ministry of Industry came a year late. Currently, with the sharp drop in the exchange rate, imported cement is no longer a strong competitor to local cement, in addition to the lack of a follow-up mechanism that continues to work with the new government. Who can guarantee that the new Minister of Environment or Industry will not change the established conditions? “
Before noon today, Hoballah holds a meeting with the managers of the three companies to reach an agreement with them, describing what they are doing “exploiting the market and pressuring us and the government to comply with their conditions.” The Minister of Industry informs Al-Akhbar that six weeks ago company representatives met with the Presidency of the Government and the Environment Committee, and “it was agreed to establish a non-governmental organization to monitor the work of companies. They agreed to the proposals and promised (resigned) to Prime Minister Hassan Diab to sign the agreement, without it being implemented. At the same time, prices rose “in a frenzy, forcing the release of the statement.” However, the love of God makes it clear that importation is not a goal in itself. Rather, the ministry wants “not to kill local industry, specifically what is related to employees, to preserve the environment, not to deplete dollars through importation and to maintain reasonable prices in the long term. Due to the reluctance of companies to sign the agreement and raise prices, we were forced to resort to opening the door to imports to reduce prices again compared to 240,000 pounds per ton. “

Cement import reduces environmental destruction, removes mountains and kills people with epidemics

Companies at this stage prefer not to “enter into a public debate with the government”, although some of them are betting on forming a new government to bury the current procedures, but they continue to “defend themselves”. Al-Sabaa issued a statement yesterday explaining that the total closure of January 5 prevented it from delivering the remaining quantities in its stock, “noting that the quarries have been completely stopped since November 2020, which considerably reduced the quantities stored”, acceding to start being distributed today at 240,000 lire (excluding TVA) “until the remaining amounts are used up.” The “seven” and “Lafarge-Holcim” are the most “affected” by the decision to stop working in the quarries. Although the latter was more “receptive” in the negotiations with the government, the position of the two companies has become similar after recent developments. Those who know the position of the two companies affirm that “the general closure and the cessation of quarry work are what have caused the rise in prices of cement, which is no longer available to traders in small quantities, and it is difficult find the material in all. ” The companies insist on their adherence to “international standards”, but in the event of any defect, they do not consider that “the law is in them, but with the ministers of State and Environment, who used to legislate businesses.” She denied her approval of the environmental deal at Serail six weeks ago. “There are many observations, the most notable being that this non-governmental organization that they want to establish will take funds from the companies and distribute them to the local communities. Who guarantees and supervises your work? The Minister of the Environment, Damianus Qattar, does not know, how is it that the Ministry of the Environment is not at the center of an agreement of this type and is responsible for it? What happens if a new minister of the environment arrives and does not agree with the established mechanism? “Questions the love of God is supposed to answer in your meeting today.
For its part, the Kfarhazir Environmental Committee issued a book to the love of God stating that “importing cement, whatever its price, is much cheaper than the cement sold to us by soil companies mixed with large amounts of ground without treat and without burning, in addition to saving us from destroying our environment and removing Our mountains and the slaughter of our people with epidemics.

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