A consultation meeting with the municipalities on “Implementation of Solar Ordinances” was held on May 9th, 2015 under the patronage and presence of Mr. Abdel Mohsen El Husseini, President of the union of municipalities in Tyre. The event took place at Platinum Hotel, Tyre where representatives from different municipalities, NGOs, experts and media networks participated. This event was a continuity of a series of meetings with different municipalities in Tyre district that aimed at introducing MED-DESIRE and “testing the waters” of implementing such solar ordinances.
The vice president of the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC), Ziad El Zein, highlighted the importance of the municipalities’ roles in promoting renewable energy, as well as enlightening the population about the benefits of employing such technologies financially and environmentally. He further confirmed Tyre’s engagement in hosting the pilot implementation of a Solar Ordinance in the framework of the MED-DESIRE project.
Mr. Abdel Mohsen El Husseini noted then the vitality of encouraging the community towards solar energy through the MED-DESIRE project. He also stressed on need of having a ministry of planning that would be in charge of endorsing sustainable projects that are essential to the development of the country as a whole.
Afterwards, LCEC energy engineer/MED-DESIRE technical and scientific committee representative, Mr. Rani Al Achkar, continued to reflect on the aims of the project. He also proceeded with a presentation about different solar energy technologies, applications, and benefits.
Furthermore, his colleague Ms. Reem Irany, LCEC energy engineer/MED-DESIRE technical staff member presented the existing financial mechanisms already launched and applied in the nation. She initiated a discussion about the current situation of solar energy in Tyre and the potential of orienting the municipalities towards solar energy.
Finally, the meeting closed with some recommendations and feedback from both the participants and LCEC which yielded promising steps and positive reflections.