Caretaker Water and Energy Minister Nada Boustani highlighted Monday Lebanon's essential need for water dams, during an inspection visit to Msailha Dam where she had a closer look at the final work phase in completing the six million cubic meters dam. 

"The water that has filled the dam reached about two million cubic meters, which is considered one third of its full capacity," said Boustani, noting that "this is the sixth dam to be completed in Lebanon." 

Boustani stressed that dams are an essential need for Lebanon, adding that "without such dams, rain water would be wasted into sea." She pointed to a national water and sanitation plan that has been modernized and is soon-to-be launched by the Water and Energy Ministry. 

Boustani indicated that the dam is currently in an experimental phase, whereby the remaining works will be finished within one to two years' time. "Meanwhile, the dam's water will be used for irrigation purposes, and upon the completion of works in the refining station, its water will reach 30 villages along the Batroun coast," she added. 

Boustani concluded by assuring that "no dam is built in Lebanon without assessing the environmental impact within the necessary environmental conditions, and here nature has given the dam an additional tourism, environmental and sports value."