Closing ceremony of SABIOP project
The University of Balamand celebrated the closure of the “Sustainable action for bioenergy production in Koura” project funded by the European Union and implemented by the Environmental and Energy Economics program at the Institute of the Environment in partnership with the Koura municipalities Union and the Koura Development Council.
SabioP implemented the construction of a biofuel production plant in Koura, that can process 1000 tons of forest residue into 700 tons of briquettes.
The closing event was held in the presence of President Warrak, Mr. Gianandrea Villa, Responsible of Local Governance and Local Authorities, European Delegation to Lebanon, Engineering Karim Bou Karim, President of the Koura Municipalities Union, Ms. Eliane Khawly, President of the Koura Development Council, in addition to a number of attendees.
In his welcoming speech, Dr. Manal Nader, director of the institute of the environment (IOE), stated that the institute of the environment strives to promote effective decision making, supportive of sustainable development policies.
He also showcased the activities undertaken by IOE in order to disseminate the SABIOP project, starting by designing the biomass production plant and the feasibility studies undertaken at the Environmental and Energy Economics Program , and the scientific studies on the biomass briquettes production from pruning residues of olive groves and public forests.
In turn, Mr. Gianandrea Villa praised the efforts of the University of Balamand in this project. He also stressed the commitment of the EU in supporting sustainable energy actions to increase the energy efficiency and to the deployment of renewable energy sources.
For his part, President Warrak showcased the role of the University of Balamand in advancing environmental practices through the institute of the environment that raises awareness and provides solutions on issues related to sustainability of natural resources.
He concluded that the University of Balamand has been and will continue to be the pioneer in the advancement of environmental practices supportive of sustainable development providing better health care to humankind and empowering the community.