The Lebanese Environmental Action (LEA)

In 2015, following the success of the National Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Action (NEEREA) in promoting sustainable energy projects all over the country, the Central Bank of Lebanon (BDL) tailored a more detailed mechanism dedicated to environmental projects.

LEA is dedicated to support the financing of new and existing environmental projects. It offers soft loans to eligible and feasible projects. LEA allows private sector entities (individuals, SME’s, or corporate bodies) and non-profit organizations to apply for subsidized loans for environmental projects with the covered measures.

The loan is eligible for new or existing projects. The loan has a ceiling of 20 million USD and is offered for a period that should not exceed 14 years including a grace period of 6 months to 4 years with low interest rates (c. 2.5%). Note that BDL has recently updated the circular and the loan ceiling for the year of 2019 is at 10 million USD. The environmental loans are provided through any of the Lebanese commercial banks to directly reach the end user.

Through financing environmental projects, LEA can improve environmental conditions across all regions in Lebanon. LEA aims to increase the share of environmentally sustainable projects in all sectors in Lebanon (excluding transportation), and improve access to clean potable water, preserve landscapes, improve air quality, among other direct or indirect benefits such as decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and consequently contributing positively to the welfare of the environment and the society.

From mid-2015 until December 2019, 162 projects proposals were submitted under the LEA financing mechanism, among which 146 were approved, 11 cancelled, 3 rejected, and 2 ongoing reviews. The total loan amount granted for the approved projects is 104 Million USD, 18.7 Million USD for the year of 2019 only, and the total loan amount requested is 150 Million USD.

 

Eligible measures to be financed through LEA:

  1. Stone cladding for exterior applications
  2. Roof tiling
  3. Landscaping
  • Softscaping
  • Hardscaping
  1. Water reduction measures
  • Efficient irrigation
  • Rainwater harvesting
  • Wastewater treatment plants
  • Efficient water fixtures and appliances
  1. Waste management measures
  2. Air Pollution Control measures

 

How it works

Clients interested in the LEA financing mechanism with an aim to implement environmental conservation measures on their premises or projects, can apply for the environmental loans at any of the Lebanese commercial banks.

The client should prepare a technical report (as per the LEA draft template prepared by the LCEC) either by himself or by an appointed consultant. The study should include a financial, technical and environmental sustainability analysis depending on the proposed solutions. The report should also include the total amount of the requested loan as well as the specific environmental benefits of the project.

The file should then be submitted to the selected commercial bank. As per circular 475, the minimum loan requested amount should be 20,000 USD. The file is then sent to BDL, which in its turn sends to LCEC for the technical evaluation. LCEC studies and reviews the projects proposal both technically and financially and issues the final decision to either approve the entire loan amount requested or partially or reject the project completely. The final decision is sent back to either BDL or the commercial bank, which in turn inform the final decision to the client.

The projects are evaluated on a case-by-case basis depending on the circumstances of each project.

This process takes around two months or more based on the quantity of applications, the quality and availability of the information provided. Post project implementation, site visits are organized by LCEC to ensure the application of the measures requested in the loan. Action is taken if the final execution diverges from the original plans. In addition, project installation should not start prior to the loan acceptance. 

 

LEA Statistics and Figures:

Measure

Total Savings (m3/year)

Efficient Irrigation

 178,491,000

 

Measure

Covered Area (m2)

Stone Cladding

143,495

Roof Tiling

29,025

Retaining Walls

112,284

Softscaping

355,089

 

Measure

Capacity Installed (m3/day)

Wastewater Treatment Plant

4,256

 

Measure

Rainwater Harvested (m3/year)

Rainwater Harvesting

193,058

 

Measure

Water Savings (liters/year)

Water Saving Fixtures

22,829,864

Water Efficient Appliances

12,100

 

Template and Guidelines

As part of the LEA financing mechanism, the LCEC has developed a template and 7 guidelines to assist in the preparation of the project proposal.

 

The LEA Guidelines are:

  • The LCEC Guidelines on Preparing Technical Proposal for Water Conservation Practices in Agriculture
  • The LCEC Guidelines on Preparing Technical Proposal for Indoor Water Reduction for Residential and Commercial Applications
  • The LCEC Guidelines on Preparing Technical Proposal for Softscaping and Efficient Irrigation
  • The LCEC Guidelines on Preparing Technical Proposal for Stone Cladding and Retaining Wall Application
  • The LCEC Guidelines on Preparing Technical Proposal for Roof Tiling Application
  •  LCEC Guidance Note for Wastewater Treatment Plants