Confusion Threatens International Trust In Lebanon's Government

 Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab signs a request for assistance from the International Monetary Fund at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon May 1, 2020. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab signs a request for assistance from the International Monetary Fund at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon May 1, 2020. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS
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Confusion Threatens International Trust In Lebanon's Government

 Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab signs a request for assistance from the International Monetary Fund at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon May 1, 2020. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab signs a request for assistance from the International Monetary Fund at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon May 1, 2020. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS

A dispute over the implementation of the government’s electricity rehabilitation plan has drawn local and international attention and criticism over the Cabinet’s “inability to respect its decisions.”

The government went back on an earlier decision to annex the Salaata power plant project to the second phase of the electricity rehabilitation program.

President Michel Aoun had asked the Cabinet Friday to reconsider a decision to postpone the building of a power plant in the village of Salaata on the northern coast. To diffuse tension with Aoun, Diab found an exit to reconsider his government’s decision, despite rejections from the Amal Movement and the Marada Movement’s ministers.

The plan is also opposed by other political forces such as the Mustaqbal movement, the Lebanese Forces, and the Progressive Socialist Party.

Parties against the plan said that building a third plant in Lebanon requires tens of millions of dollars by the time the country is suffering from a dire economic and financial crisis.

A minister, who had voted in favor of the decision before the government retracted it, stressed that Diab has “mismanaged his battle” against the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Gebran Bassil.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the minister told Asharq Al-Awsat that he was not aware of the reasons behind Diab’s decision, which came after his meeting with Aoun, before the Cabinet session that “politically harmed his government on the one hand, and caused him international and Arab embarrassment, on the other.”

A deputy also commented on the government’s move, saying: “The government’s performance is dominated by improvisation and confusion… which is hindering key financial, banking and administrative appointments.”

This would shake the government’s credibility before the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the deputy noted, especially as bold moves are required to implement the approved reform plans.



Port of NEOM Strengthens Role in Global Supply Chain Connectivity

By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
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Port of NEOM Strengthens Role in Global Supply Chain Connectivity

By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA

Port of NEOM has marked a major milestone with the arrival of the first fully automated, remote-controlled Ship-To-Shore (STS) and Electric Rubber-Tyred Gantry (eRTG) cranes in the Kingdom, advancing its goal to become a global hub for smart, sustainable trade, SPA reported.

Strategically located on the Red Sea, Port of NEOM is already serving as a critical gateway on the East-West trade route. The newly arrived state-of-the-art cranes will play a critical role in the port’s automation strategy, unlocking the potential for high-volume, high-efficiency operations.

Development of Port of NEOM continues at a pace ahead of the 2026 opening of Terminal 1, a next-generation container terminal, with recent infrastructure milestones including the completion of a 900-meter quay wall and the deepening of the port channel to 18.5 meters—enabling the world’s largest vessels transiting the Suez Canal to call at Port of NEOM.

Terminal 1 will also feature horizontal transport automation as part of its broader goal to achieve full automation. Once operational, these technologies will significantly expand the port’s logistics capacity, driving regional industrial growth, opening access to global markets, enhancing supply chain resilience, and unlocking business opportunities.

Port of NEOM Managing Director Sean Kelly said: “The arrival of our first automated cranes marks a tangible milestone as we lay the foundations for an advanced, future-ready port. We are not only accelerating industrial growth in northwest Saudi Arabia, but we are also setting a new benchmark for performance, efficiency, innovation and establishing a vital trade gateway for the Kingdom and the region beyond.”

In parallel with its investments in infrastructure and automation, Port of NEOM is also committed to developing local talent, including training Saudi women to take on high-tech roles. Central to this effort is a pioneering initiative to train the next generation of production specialists in remote crane operation skills, thereby helping to shape a more inclusive future for the logistics and industrial sectors.

By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.