A newly released environmental report reveals how industrial development vies with the struggle for pollution control in Egypt, reports Mahmoud Bakr Recently, the first-ever environment report for Egypt was released. Covering the year 2004, the report demonstrates the government's commitment to improving the environmental health of the country. To this end, the government incorporates, the report reveals, an environmental dimension into every aspect of the country's sustainable development agenda. Until now, Egyptian environmental standards have fallen short of international equivalents. The situation is critical, especially with regard to the careless use of fossil fuels and the burning of hazardous waste, giving rise to unacceptably high pollution levels. Nonetheless, the report detects a marked improvement in air quality, especially when contrasted with comparable statistics for 1999. The report also shows a marked improvement in nitrogen dioxide levels, by around 14.8 per cent. However, the report also reveals a trend towards increased pollution in urban areas. Observatories throughout the country, the document states, reported that the average annual smog concentration through 2004 did not exceed 83.4 per cent in the worst affected areas. On average, air pollution levels improved by 4.7 per cent in urban areas and 48.2 per cent in industrial areas. In Cairo, the percentage improvement reached 34.7 per cent. However, smog levels in the Kom Ombo region of Upper Egypt increased 354 per cent, mainly because of the practice of burning sugar cane waste and its use as the primary source of energy in sugar factories. Statistics also reveal that there are approximately 450 large industrial establishments and 4,500 medium-sized establishments in Egypt today. Most of Egypt's small industrial establishments -- which number approximately 21,685 -- are concentrated in Cairo and Alexandria. The report reveals that there are 125 environmentally friendly industrial plants, with investments worth over LE191 million. There are currently plans to improve conditions in 57 further establishments. Government plans also budget LE1.29 million for new industrial towns. Another project involves tackling the most polluted small and medium-scale industries, including redbrick factories, metallurgical industries, tanning and dyeing factories, ceramics and marble factories. There are an estimated 3,861 such polluting industrial establishments in the country. Some LE120 million has been allocated to the project. Already some of these factories have been relocated to Abu Zaabal, Qaliubiya governorate, and Handicrafts City in Giza. Pollution associated with manufacturing industry, the report reveals, accounts for 77 per cent of air pollution problems in Egypt, 65 per cent of workplace pollution problems and 39 per cent of water pollution problems. The report revealed that 87 plants for industrial waste disposal were constructed around the country to date. An estimated LE772.8 million were spent on industrial waste disposal projects. Another LE289.3 million were invested in air purification filters, which are mainly located in industrial zones and urban centres. Another 930 plants that substitute natural gas for fossil fuels -- with the aim of limiting air pollution -- were also constructed around the country. The cost was over LE228 million. Also noted in the report is the increased interest in the promulgation and implementation of environmental laws. Investments, both local and international, have poured into the environmental protection sector. The World Bank allocated LE35 million to protecting the environment. The European Investment Bank also allocated 5.33 million Euros to fighting environmental pollution in Egypt. Beyond air pollution, the report placed particular emphasis on fresh water and seawater pollution. While dependent upon its waters for survival, Egypt's impact upon the Nile is significant. At present it carries a high number of pollutants, especially ammonia. The report notes that no less than 1,900 water purification plants were installed over recent years to deal with the potable water problem. With regard to seawater, the country's coastlines, and especially shores near ports and adjacent industrial zones, are particularly polluted. Twenty thousand ships and oil containers pass through the Gulf of Suez annually. Oil spills are a frequent and especially menacing problem in and around Egypt's ports.
