The International Conference for Environmental Technologies, Sustainability, Alternative Energy, Water Technology and Clean Energy, EcOrient 2012, organized by IFP Group in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris (CCIP), was launched on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 with the support of the Ministry of Environment of Lebanon, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, the Order of Engineers and Architects of Beirut, the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation, the Lebanese Solar Energy Society, and the Lebanese Green Building Council.
Mr. Albert Aoun, Chairman & CEO of IFP Group, Mr. Jean-Paul Vermes, Vice-President of CCIP, Mr. Gaby Tamer, Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, and Engineer Elie Bsaibes, President of the Order of Engineers, launched the ceremony by addressing the audience.
In the first session, Ms. Randa Nemer, Advisor to the Minister of Energy & Water in Lebanon tackled the issue of Wastewater Management in Lebanon and the national strategy put in place for it. On his part, Mr. Dominique Preux, Director of the International Office of Water in France, presented the action his office took in this regard.
The second session of the first day addressed Medical Waste Management. Ms. Samar Khalil, Project Manager of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Lebanon demonstrated the best techniques and practices for reducing healthcare waste to avoid environmental releases of dioxins and mercury. Mr. Dominique Salameh, Head of the Program of Environment at ARCENCIEL, and other experts of several hospitals and healthcare institutions in Lebanon, partook in this session.
“Towards a Green Economy” was the title of the third session, which highlighted foreign partnerships and investments in sectors related to the green economy in Lebanon. Mr. Taha Rafi of the International Finance Corporation for Sustainable Energy Finance, Middle East & North Africa, moderated the session. A host of experts participated in this session, among whom included Ms. Zoé LUÇON, Project Manager of ANIMA – Investment Network, France, and Mr. Karim el-Jisr- Ecodit Director, France, who presented the Lebanon Proposal to RIO+ 20.
On the second day, the first session discussed renewable energy policies and initiatives for Lebanon and the region. The panelists included Mr. Pierre Khoury, Manager of the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC), Lebanon; Dr. Paolo Zavatta of the Italian Federation of Electrotechnical and Electronics Industries (ANIE), Italy; Mr. Philippe Costerg, Deputy Director Solar Photovoltaics at Total France and other local energy experts.
Session two of day two was dedicated to Green Buildings. Speakers included Mr. Rabih Khairallah, President of the Mechanical Branch of the Order of Engineers & Architects of Lebanon, and top experts in environmentally-friendly technologies from Lebanon and abroad.
The closing session shed light on success stories in Renewable Energy Applications and Alternative Energies. Mr. Walid El Baba, Board Member of Lebanese Solar Energy Society (LSES) and Lebanon Green Building Council (LGBC), Mr. Ramzi AbuSaid, LSES President, and a multitude of local and regional experts shared their experiences and views with the audience.
