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3. 3,500 Gas Stations for 10,452 km²

Lebanon is overwhelmed with gas stations. The country has 3,500 gas stations spread over 10,452 km². This amounts to one station for every 1,428 people, a ratio unique in the region and in Europe.

For comparison:

• In France, one station serves 6,235 people.

• In Germany, one station serves 5,975 people.

When considering land area, the difference is even more striking. There is one station every 3 km in Lebanon. In France, there is one station every 50 km, and in Germany, one every 26 km.

Nearly a thousand stations operate outside the legal framework. Decree No. 5509 sets strict rules, including regulated operating conditions, mandatory public safety measures and a minimum distance of 800 meters between two category 1 stations.

In practice, these rules are widely ignored. Minister of Energy and Water Joe Saddi recently called on his counterpart in the Ministry of Interior, Ahmad al-Hajjar, to take action against violators. The president of the Syndicate of Gas Station Owners, Nabil Brax, proposed increasing the minimum distance to 2,000 meters to curb uncontrolled growth.

The task remains difficult. Between private interests and lack of oversight, the fuel market continues to operate at full speed.

Chaos persists, ignoring both the rules and common sense.