Salinas in Lebanon

Once upon a time in Lebanon (4)

In the past decades, salt ponds were spread over the Lebanese coast, namely in the region of Anfeh, north Lebanon. Such ponds provided employment for thousands of workers and produced salt of good quality. The government regulated this sector by issuing Legislative Decree No. 84 of June 13, 1959 (photo) that requests all those interested in investing in salt ponds in Lebanon to obtain a license and to pay the required fees.

In order to protect this industry from foreign competition, a fine was imposed on all those who import salt or brought it surreptitiously into Lebanon without paying the consumption fee, and the salt was confiscated.

Today, salt industry is neglected and subject to foreign competition. It has declined dramatically for several economic and environmental reasons, limiting the number of workers to a few individuals in north Lebanon.