Kataeb Lawmaker Selim Sayegh held a press conference addressing the issue of hazardous chemicals present at the Zouk Thermal Power Plant.

"It is a conspiracy of silence that rears its head to obscure the perpetrator or participant in the crime or those who remain silent about it. These are all cases of complicity at the expense of citizens' rights, public interest, and the right to life. It is the conspiracy of silence manifesting itself in the Zouk power plant," Sayegh noted.

"This conspiracy may appear without conspirators, perpetrators, or officials to completely obfuscate justice just as the citizen and the nation are lost," he added.

Sayegh thanked the Mayor of Zouk Mikael, Elie Beaino, who played an exemplary role as head of the local authority, within the law and with full conscience, and the residents of Zouk who refused to remain hostages to negligence and refused to live in a state of constant anxiety, fearing a repeat of August 4th, after they bore both human and material consequences of what happened.

He added, "I have followed closely from the very beginning with the Mayor, the head of the Electricité du Liban institution, the Minister of Environment, and the military leadership, and reviewed the reports of experts and the judicial decision to transfer hazardous substances, and inspected the site of the plant to arrive at the following conclusions:

1- The inconsistency in positions among official institutions is paramount. While the Lebanese army has undertaken its required actions, the Electricité du Liban (EDL) requested approval for the transfer, yet it was not granted due to the Customs Authority awaiting a decision from the Ministry of Environment. The Ministry claims it lacks a complete file for the transfer for the past three years, despite correspondence between the EDL and the Ministry.

2- There are various interpretations regarding the classification of the substances present in the plant and how they are stored. Some ministers describe them as hazardous, others as hazardous but non-explosive, and yet some assert they are hazardous only when ignited but do not pose an immediate threat to public safety. Personally inspecting the warehouses and storage facilities, it is evident that while some materials have been properly arranged, most are situated in locations vulnerable to extreme heat or moisture. There is also evidence of professional organization, but numerous tons of materials pose a risk to others due to negligent handling and the presence of water.

It is crucial to inform the public that the Zouk plant faces a flood threat during the winter from nearby water channels and drainage water. The danger lies in the possibility of the plant's grounds becoming saturated with water, which should be avoided as the interaction between water and materials could introduce external elements, leading to undesirable consequences.

3- Negligence in follow-up: For the past three years, there has been no transfer, and no place in the country is willing to accept these materials. They need to be transferred to foreign countries for disposal or treatment. This delay indicates a flaw in managing the file and serves as a warning for the future. The General Director of Electricité du Liban informed me that any future energy production will require the company to handle the same materials that are currently at risk, endangering people's lives. This means that the current storage conditions are unsafe. What's worse is that any future transfer of similar materials will face similar delays, indicating that the state is no longer capable of managing the energy sector efficiently, a sector that has already cost us tens of billions."

"Today is not a day for accountability, but a day for decision-making, and the decision lies with Prime Minister Najib Mikati to execute the transfer as long as requested by the Minister of Finance," he indicated.

"Therefore, I addressed the Prime Minister this morning with a message, not a question that takes its legal course in Parliament and turns into questioning and confidence withdrawal, which is not beneficial, especially in such a situation. The government is resigned, the situation is urgent, and it requires a decision from the Prime Minister under the powers entrusted to him, which have been transferred to the government from the President of the Republic, namely, safeguarding the security and safety of citizens. Therefore, I need to transfer the materials immediately and spare the region from Kesserwan to neighboring districts from a tragedy, especially amidst the security instability, war, and daily threats of destruction not only to border villages but to all of Lebanon," Sayegh stressed.

'If some are reassured, I am not reassured, and I will not rest until these materials are transferred. That is why I carried my message to the Prime Minister, asking him to shoulder the responsibility according to the constitution and the powers vested in him. He should not prolong the matter and investigations should be opened from every angle. It is known today that the decision for the government lies in the hands of few," he added.

He also noted that the Minister of Finance stated his readiness to release the necessary funds, and the Electricité du Liban confirmed that they have put the matter on their agenda.

"So why the waiting and delay? The issue has been brought to light in the media for ten days now, yet no action has been taken. Until today, we are still spinning in circles without a decisive resolution," Sayegh concluded.