The Higher Committee for Beaches Licensing held a meeting, on Wednesday, chaired by Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Atty to issue new licences for various national projects. The meeting took place in the presence of Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad, along with: Ashraf Hubeishi, Head of the Public Authority for Shore Protection; representatives from the Ministries of Defence, Transportation, Local Development, Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities, and Tourism and Antiquities; and representatives from the concerned coastal governorates. During the meeting, Abdel Atty said that the committee is concerned with approving all licences for Egypt's beaches, and discussing studies related to the works carried out along the country's coastline. This is particularly with regard to determining the sanctuary and balance of beaches, and ensuring that all facilities are light and easy to dismantle and install. He explained that the committee is working to take the necessary decisions as soon as possible after the licenced party fulfils all the necessary conditions. This will facilitate the investors and holders of licensing applications, and to push development in Egypt forward. For her part, Fouad emphasised the consideration of environmental dimensions in the national projects undertaken by the Egyptian government. This includes the commitment of investment projects to environmental impact assessment studies and environmental law. She further stressed her ministry's keenness to provide technical support for projects to achieve compatibility between their economic and environmental aspects. During the meeting, the committee discussed 36 topics related to the governorates of Matrouh, Suez, Alexandria, the Red Sea, Beheira, Damiettaو and North Sinai. A total of 28 applications were accepted due to their fulfilment of the necessary conditions, whilst six applications were postponed for further study, and two were rejected. Moreover, a licence was approved for beach works at a number of national and investment projects, the most important of which are the construction of a breakwater west of Damietta Port to protect it. This also includes the project to develop the Dekheila port as well as the development of the Montazah area in Alexandria, the establishment of a seawater desalination plant in Al-Arish, and the establishment of two fishing ports south of Marsa Alam and Abu Ramad in Al-Shalatin.
