Coast clearance AT THE NATIONAL Council of Human Rights conference on development and landmine removal, held on the northwestern coast last week, Minister of State for Environmental Affairs Maged George declared that landmines are posing a major challenge to the development of the area. The UK, the US, Italy and Germany, among others, have been helping, but the problem is far from resolved -- an achievement that would cost an estimated LE1.5 billion: "we need sophisticated equipment including landmine detectors, as well as laser and radar surveillance tools." Landmine- infested areas -- nearly 850,000 acres of arable land as well as salt lakes, hot springs, rocky peaks and potential tourist sites -- are rich in natural resources and can be developed for agricultural, mining and tourism purposes; and it is landmines deposited during World War II that impede the course of development. "Many of the mines have shifted with the movement of sand dunes; some, which have been subject to erosion, are now more responsive to movement and thus more lethal," George explained. Of 102 million landmines in 65 countries worldwide, Egypt has 22 dispersed over a remarkably large surface area. Once landmines are removed, the northwestern desert population should rise from 0.5 to two million or more. The sound police IN AN EFFORT to reduce levels of noise pollution across the country, the Ministry of Environment has set up a network of sensors to monitor noise and supply accurate information to be used in determining the sites of future roads and hospitals. The environment squad and the Ministry of Interior have been inspecting mobile and stationary noise since last summer, and the ministry is also assessing the level of noise in Cairo's underground metro in an effort to plan future metro lines. Eco auto AUTO emissions are subject to serious regulations now that the government has created 10 centres for checking vehicles. The Ministry of Environment is also spearheading a campaign to reduce lead air pollution in Qalyoubia, clearing five smelter sites which, though closed down, are still polluted -- a four-month project that will cost LE7.7 million. Waste away OVER the next six years, private units for treatment and disposal of industrial waste are to be built in free zones, and units for treating solid waste at harbours are to be established. All of which is part of government plans to privatise the recycling of municipal solid waste. Cycles of recycling IN THE NEXT five years, projects for recycling agricultural refuse will be completed in 20 governorates, with over 2,000 units to be owned by young graduates for recycling rice hay (the government offers loans for the production of mushrooms from it, with 600 sites in the Nile Delta) and programmes to recycle plastic and paper. Sixty million tonnes of solid waste are recycled annually in Egypt, 25 per cent of which is paper, 12 per cent plastic, seven per cent metal, seven per cent cloth fabric, and five per cent glass. Sun up TO HELP reduce global warming, Egypt and Italy are cooperating on a new solar energy programme. Experts from the University of Florence are involved in solar production in three sites, two in protected and tourist areas, and one in a distant outpost not yet connected to the power grid. Green flight THE COUNTRY'S national airline, EgyptAir, is cooperating with the Ministry of Environment on an environmental research and awareness training programme, with experts from both bodies in the process of creating an integrated environmental monitoring system. Cleaner production AS PART of the Environmental Compliance Office's (ECO) efforts to spread cleaner production by building and developing the capacities of Egyptian consultants in the field, ECO is organising a training programme on 17-18 January 2006. Trainers include Danish experts and will be held at the premises of the FEI. Engineer Ahmed Kamal, the acting manager of ECO, will shed light on the environmental management systems applied by the Egyptian industry. Mogens Dinesen, the Danish technical advisor alongside other Danish consultants, will speak about applying the latest cleaner production technologies and environmental management systems available worldwide. Egyptian consultants representing more than 40 consultancy firms in the environment and industrial development sector will take part in the training programme. The participants will transfer the concepts they will acquire about cleaner production to their partners and clients to improve the national industry, create employment opportunities within industrial facilities, boost exports as well as control environmental threats and their overall impact.
