The office of Judge Bassam Mawlawi, Minister of Interior and Municipalities, issued the following statement:

“After receiving information from the Minister of Interior and Municipalities about the situation of chemical warehouses belonging to the Zouk thermal plant, and because the plant’s current security situation is not sound due to the presence of gaps in the technical fence and a lack of guarding elements, which allows people to enter its precincts, where the “hydrogen and fuel oil” tanks are located.” In addition, there are some expired dangerous materials that, if exposed to a sabotage act, could cause an explosion.

And out of his concern for the safety of citizens living in the area and the neighborhood, especially in light of the presence of large gas tanks for a company near the plant, Minister Mawlawi submitted to the Cabinet yesterday a detailed warning report calling for immediate action to remove everything that could cause any danger.

The office of the Minister of Interior and Municipalities would like to point out that Minister Mawlawi called on the Council of Ministers to provide security for the Zouk Thermal Plant and all its facilities until the plant’s management is able to complete the maintenance work, as well as instructing the Ministry of Energy and Direct Water to dismantle the old plant or empty it of hazardous materials.

As a result, the Council of Ministers decided to assign the army to immediately secure a guard point in the factory, inspect the existing materials, and take the necessary measures to prevent any damage that may result from them, and work to move and remove them immediately.

Accordingly, Minister Mawlawi sent a letter to the Ministry of National Defense requesting that all necessary measures be taken to put the Cabinet’s decision into effect, given that the lack of immediate implementation would endanger the safety of citizens and facilities in the vicinity of the factory.