The new PPP law

A turning point for infrastructure investments in Lebanon?

Previous experience in a number of countries has proven that publicprivate partnerships (PPP) are an efficient method for developing long-term infrastructure projects. Under a PPP model, the government remains focused on its primary regulatorary role, while the private sector injects funds and expertise into developing projects for the benefit of the government and, ultimately, the public. One of the main factors of a successful PPP is the existence of a legal regime based on the principles of transparency, competitiveness, and accountability.

After a decade of delays, the enactment of Law No. 48 on September 7, 2017 will undoubtedly create new prospects for the implementation of PPPs in Lebanon for both existing and future projects. The enactment of the law cannot be dissociated from the upcoming international donors conference, Cédre, which is scheduled for April 6 in Paris for the purpose of supporting the Lebanese economy, and in particular for the financing of infrastructure projects in Lebanon—expected at around $16 billion over a period of 10 years.

The law introduced a new legal regime for PPP projects in Lebanon, replacing the traditional procurement processes, which suffered from weak transparency, competitiveness, and accountability standards. The PPP law renames the “High Council for Privatization,” a ministerial committee, to the “High Council for Privatization and PPP,” and grants the council the power to assess and evaluate potential PPP projects. Once a PPP project is identified by the council, a PPP project committee will be established to study the technical, economic, legal, and financial aspects of the project, and to determine the criteria for qualifying the private partner. The PPP law stipulates the main mandatory provisions that must be included in the PPP agreement governing the contractual relationship between the public and private parties, and defines the procedures that should be applied by each party and their obligations. Therefore, the private partner is provided with sufficient clarity and visibility on the implementation of the project.

In addition, the PPP law provides that the private partners must submit both a technical and financial proposal, and that at least three offers will have to qualify, or the project will be reopened for another round of bidding, ensuring equality among the bidders and creating fair competition. Moreover, it is worth nothing that the appointment of experts and consultants to support a PPP tender may be based either on the provisions of the Lebanese Public Accounting Law or, if available, the relevant internal regulations of the High Council for Privatization and PPP, or the relevant state authority that is involved in the tender. This possibility provides for additional flexibility in terms of developing the necessary tender resources.

The PPP law is expected to create a favorable environment for the private sector to invest in infrastructure projects in Lebanon. The private sector will be keener to enter into partnerships with the Lebanese government and to provide much-needed funding when the partnership is governed by a strong legal framework that protects their interests. In this respect, the country will benefit from the private sector’s knowhow and managerial skills, contributing to the efficient development of infrastructure projects in Lebanon. In addition, the adoption of the PPP law will play an important role in attracting foreign investments