CAIRO: Egypt's Minister of Environmental Affairs Maged George said that environmental investments that were spent in the period between 2006 until 2010 rose to around 7.2 billion Egyptian pounds, or $1.25 billion. A sum of about EGP 2.2 million has been spent on projects to combat industrial pollution, the minister said. He also said that projects to develop the most impoverished villages cost 198 million Egyptian pounds, noting that 96 million pounds has been allocated to a forestation programs. The report comes as Egypt continues to look for alternative energy solutions to shortages across the country. The ministry has already established a number of wind farms on the east coast and hopes this will help produce 20 percent of Egyptian power by the end of the decade. Wind power initiatives have already received a strong push, with the ministry reporting that bids for the construction of a 1,000 Megawatt energy park in the Gulf of Suez. Wind is not new to Egypt, with a 500 MW power plant already established in the Zaafrana are of the Gulf of Suez, however, the ministry believes that this new effort will spark more interest in the budding field. Despite the positive efforts made by the North African country to have 14 percent of its power from renewable sources of energy, the ministries of electricity and environment believe the country can double this by 2025 if options are made available. According to an environment ministry official in the Red Sea, Egypt has the potential to “show the world how renewable energy can be profitable and sustainable.” BM
