A Water Concession from the Late Ottoman to the Early Republican Era: The Cebel-i Lubnan Water Company

In the late Ottoman period, modern irrigation methods were introduced to address the water needs of both the population and agricultural lands. In regions facing irrigation problems, projects were implemented through private capital concessions. One such initiative was the 1912 concession granted for the distribution of water from the Nehr-i Salib and Neb’ül-el Asel rivers in Mount Lebanon to the Kesviran district via canals. This study explores the Mount Lebanon Water Company as a significant example of private sector involvement in water resource management from the late Ottoman period to the early Republican era. It examines the company’s establishment, administrative and financial structure, concession agreement, relations with local authorities, activities, and its institutional transformation during the empire-to-republic transition. Findings indicate that the company began operations in 1912, was founded in Istanbul, operated in Mount Lebanon, and was subject to Ottoman law. The concession holder was Selim Şakir Bey, and the company continued its existence into the early Republican period. However, the lack of detailed information regarding its operational activities and whether water was successfully delivered to Kesviran and nearby areas constitutes a key limitation of this study.