The Arab Reform Initiative held a closed roundtable discussion on 19 December 2024, titled “Post-War Access to Clean Electricity and Energy in Lebanon: Unlocking the Challenges”. The discussion focused on reconstructing the energy and electricity sector. The roundtable discussion aimed to move away from technical solutions and center the political options for post-war energy and electricity reconstruction for a more just reconstruction process.

The discussion was moderated by ARI’s Environmental Politics Program Director, Sarine Karajerjian, and featured insights from energy expert Pierre El Khoury, lawyer and International Union for Conservation of Nature World Commission on Environmental Law member Christina Abi Haidar, member of parliament Ibrahim Mneimneh, UN Development Program Energy Adviser Karim Osseiran, UN-Habitat Environmental Engineer Georges Saade, and energy policy and geopolitics expert Laury Haytayan.

Framing the Energy Crisis

Lebanon’s energy sector has long been plagued by inefficiency and short-term fixes. The recent conflict exacerbated these challenges, compounding an already dire electricity crisis where outdated infrastructure and insufficient generation capacity forced dependence on private generators. Rebuilding the energy sector presents both challenges and opportunities to create a sustainable, resilient, and equitable energy system.

MP Mneimneh noted that the sector remains caught in a cycle of patchwork solutions. A clear, long-term political vision based on robust data and informed technical planning is critical to breaking this cycle.

Participants also highlighted that Lebanon has an opportunity to leverage the crisis to rebuild based on just access to renewable energy and green policies. However, this depends on clear demands and policies, aligned with upcoming political developments, to influence reconstruction from the outset.

War Impacts and Legal Considerations

Under international law, the targeting of civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities, is prohibited. Frameworks such as Additional Protocols I and II (1977) and the Hague Convention of 1954 classify such acts as potential war crimes. Despite Israel’s non-ratification of these protocols, its judiciary recognizes the obligation to abide by international standards.

During the war, renewable energy sources were the main targets during the war, and it is estimated that 10-15% of solar panels were destroyed, with losses between $150 to $300 million, stated El Khoury. The electricity grid itself needs to be rebuilt, providing an opportunity to build smart grids instead. Houses should be reconstructed with proper insulation so they require less heating and cooling. The government should not just focus on increasing supply but also on decreasing energy demand. The National Control Center was destroyed, but it needed the latest technologies and updates. It will be less costly to build them anew than it would have been to fix them.

However, pursuing justice comes with challenges. Lebanon must document violations, collaborate with international organizations, and build strong evidence-based cases to hold offenders accountable, urged Abi Haidar: “While enforcement remains limited, symbolic victories can maintain international pressure and deter future violations.”

Israel committed multiple war crimes in Lebanon, including targeting vital civilian infrastructure such as hospitals and energy, sewage, and water plants, and they must be brought to the international court. However, the international community is unwilling to do so. Israel once caused an oil spill during one of its attacks in the July 2006 war, and the UN Security Council, whose decisions are binding, could have set a precedent for other countries to sue for environmental crimes by stating that Israel had committed a crime. But they used their veto power to circumvent accountability.

As such, Lebanon needs to build a detailed case, and look for breaches and loopholes in international law, with the cooperation of ministries, governmental agencies, and international organizations, to advocate for itself.

Policy and Governance

Participants emphasized that Lebanon’s energy crisis stems from political failures as much as technical shortcomings. El Khoury stressed the need for a clear, long-term political vision supported by robust data. Abi Haidar called for integrating sustainable policies into the broader political framework from the start.

Lebanon’s fragmented approach to governance has hindered progress. While the government has outlined a renewable energy strategy, weak implementation highlights the need for stronger leadership and integrated planning.

Decentralization emerged as a key theme. Applying Law 462 to decentralize renewable energy would enable municipalities to produce power, alleviating pressure on Électricité du Liban. Empowering municipalities to lead local renewable energy initiatives could drive progress at the community level before scaling up nationally. However, decentralization also carries risks of duplication and unequal resource distribution, which must be addressed.

Participants underscored the importance of enforcing existing laws while working on new ones. Additionally, a monitoring body or task force, such as the Lebanese Green Building Council, should coordinate efforts and streamline processes to avoid inefficiencies.

While resilient, community-driven energy systems have emerged from necessity, they have also contributed to a fragmented approach. A unified, coordinated strategy is essential moving forward.

Investments and Economic Constraints

Rebuilding Lebanon’s energy sector requires significant investment, but economic instability and governance issues deter potential investors. Investment depends on a stable environment, clear laws, a functioning banking sector, a robust judiciary, and economic reforms. Currently, Lebanon’s high-risk environment makes it unattractive to investors.

Participants noted that projects proposed by the UN and World Bank before the war lacked a cohesive government strategy, limiting their effectiveness. Moving forward, Lebanon cannot accept further debt without proper structures and clear benefits.

It was stated that, during his time in office, Minister of Environment Dr. Nasser Yassin highlighted renewable energy’s potential despite its intermittent nature, which necessitates storage solutions requiring further investment. Construction of green energy infrastructure will be more time-consuming than simply repairing the existing yet broken infrastructure but offers long-term benefits.

There was debate about whether the private sector profits from the current system. Osseiran noted a 40% loss on private energy investments, while others argued that private sector power could either drive progress or stall reform. Regardless, participants agreed the status quo is unsustainable.

The Path Forward: Building a Resilient Energy Sector

The roundtable identified key steps for a sustainable and equitable energy future:

1. Leverage Decentralized Solutions: Empower communities with localized energy solutions to alleviate pressure on Électricité du Liban.
2. Enhance Transparency and Data Use: Prioritize accurate data and e-governance, which are essential for coordinated planning and efficient resource allocation.
3. Foster Collaborative Stakeholder Engagement: Establish a task force to align governmental, international, and community efforts in reconstruction.
4. Rebuild for Resilience: Incorporate energy-efficient building standards and just access to renewable energy in reconstruction plans.

Conclusion

Lebanon’s post-war reconstruction presents a pivotal opportunity to reimagine its energy future. Moving beyond short-term fixes, the country must pursue sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient solutions. Achieving this vision requires coordinated action among policymakers, international partners, and civil society. As Abi Haidar stated, “We’ve waited so long for basic human rights like electricity. We can wait a little longer if it means building a sustainable, green energy future. We don’t want to tick boxes – we want to build a state.”

Ultimately, success hinges on addressing fundamental questions: Who will lead the reconstruction? Who will finance it? And who will benefit from the new energy landscape?