National Authority of the Litani River

What National Authority of the Litani River does

The National Authority of the Litani River (LRA; المصلحة الوطنية لنهر الليطاني) is a Lebanese public government authority founded circa 1956-1960 and operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy and Water. It holds the statutory mandate to manage all water and energy resources of the Litani River basin — Lebanon's longest river at 170 km — including irrigation, hydropower generation, dam safety, and pollution control. LRA is the sole entity legally empowered to operate in this domain, with regulatory authority reaffirmed through Law 63/2016 and Water Law 77/2018.

LRA's operational portfolio centers on the Qaraoun Dam (220 million m³ storage capacity, 62m height, 1100m crest length), three hydropower plants — Ibrahim Abd Alal/Markabi, Boulous Arqash/Awali, and Charles Helou/Joun — with combined installed capacity of 192-195 MW commissioned between 1962 and 1968, and three irrigation projects (Qasimiya-Ras al-Ain serving 6,000+ hectares via a 50 km canal; Saida-Tyre serving 1,000+ hectares; Bekaa South serving 2,000 hectares). Supporting technical capabilities include an in-house GIS Department for basin mapping, ROV-based underwater dam inspection (Outland 1000), and a monthly water quality monitoring network across 10+ sampling points. Annual hydropower production was 78.3M KWh in full-year 2025 and reached 113.5M KWh in the first five months of 2026.

LRA's revenue model is a hybrid of state budget appropriations, international development financing (notably a $55M World Bank pollution-reduction loan and the 2025 RESRP loan for HPP rehabilitation), irrigation fees collected from farmer subscribers, and electricity sales to the single national offtaker Électricité du Liban (EDL). The authority does not publish commercial revenue figures. It operates through approximately 51-100 staff across a Central Administration in Beirut, three hydropower plant sites, the Qaraoun Dam complex, and regional irrigation offices in Sidon, Tyre, Qasimiya, Nabatieh Tahta, and Ansariya. Strategic priorities include executing World Bank-funded modernization, pursuing legal action against industrial polluters and encroachers, and coordinating with the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Environment, and CDR on basin-wide pollution remediation.

Name

National Authority of the Litani River

Legal name

National Authority of the Litani River (المصلحة الوطنية لنهر الليطاني)

Website

https://litani.gov.lb

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The National Authority of the Litani River is a Lebanese government authority managing the 170 km Litani River basin, operating Qaraoun Dam, three hydropower plants (192 MW combined), and irrigation infrastructure serving over 7,000 hectares of agricultural land.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Resource Management

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Hydroelectric Power Generation (221111), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hydropower Operations, Maintenance & Asset Management (O&M, Spares, Performance) (EUAMADAE), Hydropower Operations, Maintenance & Refurbishment (R&M/Life Extension) (EUACAEAG), Hydro BOP Civil & Water Conveyance (Dams, Spillways, Penstocks, Canals) (EUAMAFAG), Pipes, Tubing & Conveyance Infrastructure (Mainlines, Laterals, Hoses) (AFAAACAG), Agricultural Irrigation Water Conveyance Pipelines (Long-Distance) (TLAGAHAD)

Keywords

• Water resource management
• Hydropower generation
• Irrigation services
• Dam operations
• River basin management

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Hydropower electricity sales: LRA generates electricity at three hydropower plants (Ibrahim Abdellal/Markabi, Boushra Arqash/Awali, Charles Helou/Joun) with combined installed capacity of 192-195 MW. Generated electricity is supplied to the national grid via Électricité du Lebanon (EDL). Annual production approximately 78-113 million KWh depending on water availability.
2. Irrigation water fees: Fees charged to agricultural subscribers for irrigation water supplied via the Qasimiya-Ras al-Ain irrigation project and the Sidon-Jezzine project. Fees are collected through the billing/collection department (مصلحة الجباية). The authority also issues circulars modifying irrigation water prices.
3. Government budget appropriations: LRA receives annual state budget appropriations from the Lebanese government to fund operations, maintenance, and capital projects. Law 63/2016 allocated 1,100 billion LBP for pollution mitigation projects, with specific tranches to different ministries and LRA.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The National Authority of the Litani River (LRA) is a Lebanese public authority that manages the Litani River Basin, the country's longest river at approximately 170 km. It operates the Qaraoun Dam (with 220 million m³ storage capacity), three hydropower plants (Markabi, Awali, and Joun, totaling 192 MW of installed capacity), and several irrigation projects covering approximately 9,000 hectares of agricultural land across the Qasimiya-Ras al-Ain, Saida-Tyre, and Bekaa South regions.

Product overview

The National Authority of the Litani River is a Lebanese government agency managing the Litani River Basin (170km, Lebanon's longest river). Its portfolio comprises three interconnected infrastructure systems: (1) Hydroelectric Power Generation — three hydropower plants (Ibrahim Abd Alal/Markabi, Boulous Arqash/Awali, and Charles Helou/Joun) with combined installed capacity of 192 MW powered by Qaraoun Dam; (2) Irrigation Infrastructure — the Qasimiyah-Ras al-Ain project (50km canal, ~6,000 ha), the Saida-Tyre project (~1,000 ha), and the Bekaa South project (~2,000 ha); and (3) Environmental Services including GIS-based water resource mapping, water quality monitoring, and pollution control coordination. The Authority also operates the Qaraoun Dam as its primary water storage asset (220 million m³).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Litani River Basin Management

Quantifiable outcome

• 113,450,500 KWh of clean hydropower generated in 5 months of 2026
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Industrialists Association (Bekaa)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 September 2024Meeting on 3 September 2024 between LRA head Dr. Sami Alawieh and industrialists in the upper basin, led by Nicola Abu Faisal. Decided to form a joint technical committee to establish treatment principles and support industrialists in improving water treatment at their facilities.
• Lebanese Aggregation for Environment / SPNL / Waves AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2023Five-year cooperation agreement signed 28 February 2023 for protecting water resources in the Litani River basin, developing local environmental expertise, and improving water and environmental management.
• Lebanese Maltese Knights AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2022Twenty-year cooperation agreement signed 18 July 2022 for developing the agricultural and humanitarian sector, serving vulnerable populations through agricultural support.
• Islamic University in LebanonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 July 2021Five-year cooperation agreement signed 5 July 2021 to share river flow measurement data, spring flow data, groundwater levels, water quality data, and hydropower production data for water quality informatics programs.
• Beirut Bar AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 November 2019Five-year cooperation agreement signed 12 November 2019 for legal assistance and public awareness on private sector participation in water project management per Water Law Article 62.
• Balamand UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2019Five-year cooperation agreement signed 26 September 2019 to develop a clear natural resource management plan for the Litani Basin at the basin-wide level.
• Lebanon Reforestation Project AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 July 2019Two-year cooperation agreement signed 26 July 2019 for land rehabilitation near Qaraoun Dam in the Mashghara area.
• USAID / International Resources Group (IRG) — LRBMS ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSAID-funded Litani River Basin Management Support (LRBMS) program, implemented by International Resources Group (IRG), supported LRA in improving water resource management. Funded underwater ROV inspection of Qaraoun Dam, dam safety assessment, and walk-through surveys of river pollution.
• Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCDR is the implementing agency for World Bank-funded projects in Lebanon, including the pollution reduction projects in the Litani River basin. Coordinates project execution on behalf of the Lebanese government.
• Danesh Contracting and Trading CompanyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAfter October 2024 Israeli airstrikes damaged the Qasimiya-Ras al-Ain irrigation canal (65m carrier damaged in Arzi area), Danesh Company voluntarily repaired a 6m culvert and 50m of carrier at its own expense to restore irrigation before the 2025 season.
• Lebanese Army and Army Intelligence (South Branch)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLebanese Army and Army Intelligence provide security coordination for LRA field operations, including inspection of war-damaged irrigation infrastructure (October 2024), facilitating security permits for maintenance teams, and supporting enforcement actions against polluters and illegal occupants.
• Ministry of Energy and WatercoreOthersParent ministry responsible for overall water sector policy. LRA operates under its supervision. Responsible for domestic wastewater treatment infrastructure per Law 63/2016.
• Ministry of EnvironmentcoreOthersResponsible for solid waste management and industrial waste per Law 63/2016. Co-chair of joint inspection committees with LRA for industrial compliance.
• Ministry of IndustrycoreOthersJoint committee with LRA for surveying industrial environmental compliance in the Litani basin. Formed by Decision 13/2020. Responsible for industrial wastewater per Law 63/2016.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Eletrobras (Brazil): Major Latin American state-linked hydroelectric operator with extensive dam and HPP portfolios. Comparable as a large government-affiliated hydro operator managing multi-basin water resources for power generation, though at much larger scale and partially privatized.
• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA): US federal corporation managing an entire river basin (Tennessee River) with integrated hydropower generation, flood control, irrigation support, water quality monitoring, and economic development mandates. The closest functional analog to LRA's basin-wide governance model, though at vastly larger scale and with full federal backing.
• Hydro-Québec: Canadian provincial crown corporation operating one of the world's largest hydropower fleets with 60+ generating stations. Highly comparable as a government-owned hydroelectric operator with single-basin focus and grid-injection offtake model similar to LRA's arrangement with EDL.
• National Water Commission of Mexico (CONAGUA): Mexican federal agency administering national water resources, irrigation districts, and dam infrastructure. Comparable public-administration model for basin-level water governance with irrigation and hydropower adjunct functions.

Regional players

• Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation: Indian state river basin development corporation responsible for integrated irrigation, hydropower, and water resource management across a major river basin. Functionally analogous to LRA in combining irrigation, hydropower generation, and basin-level governance under public ownership.
• Water Authority of Jordan: Jordanian national water authority managing water supply, wastewater, and irrigation in a similarly water-stressed Middle Eastern geography. Closest regional peer given comparable climate, water-scarcity context, and public-authority governance model.

Direct peers

• Électricité du Liban (EDL): Lebanon's national electricity utility and the sole offtaker of LRA's hydropower output. EDL is a directly comparable Lebanese public utility operating generation, transmission, and distribution assets under government ownership with similar budget-appropriation and crisis-era execution dynamics.
• Lesotho Highlands Water Authority (LHDA): African transboundary water authority managing a multi-dam system with hydropower and interbasin water transfer mandates. Highly comparable institutional structure: government authority managing dams, hydropower plants, and water resource governance with significant donor financing dependencies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lralitani
• Facebookfacebook.com/riverlitani
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ministry-of-energy-and-water-lebanon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Authority of the Litani River