Egypt has invested EGP 52.3m to develop the solid waste management system in Aswan governorate, Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment Manal Awad announced on Sunday. The investment includes the completion of a sanitary landfill in Edfu at a cost of EGP 21m and the provision of EGP 15.3m worth of equipment, including two 40-tonne dump trucks, two loaders, and two 18-cubic-metre presses. A further EGP 16m was allocated to remove 147,000 tonnes of accumulated waste, Awad said during a meeting with Aswan Governor Ismail Kamal at the ministry's headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. The meeting addressed plans to offer several waste recycling plants to the private sector for development and operation. Future projects scheduled for Aswan, Nasr al-Nuba, and Kom Ombo include the establishment of mobile intermediate stations, upgrading existing recycling plants, and providing additional cleaning equipment. Awad and Kamal also reviewed the executive status of the first phase of the "Haya Karima" (Decent Life) presidential initiative. The phase targets 31 main villages and 100 sub-villages in Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Nasr al-Nuba, comprising 1,993 projects. These include housing for families in need, agricultural service complexes, ambulance points, educational facilities, family development centres, water and sanitation plants, and telecommunications and transport infrastructure. "The implementing companies must adhere to the timelines for finishing the remaining first-phase projects to ensure citizens can benefit from these services," Awad said. Regarding state land protection, the minister announced that the 28th wave of removals for illegal encroachments on state-owned land will begin on January 10. Awad emphasised the importance of coordinating with the security directorate and law enforcement to strictly address all forms of violations. Kamal stated that Aswan's executive bodies monitor encroachments daily through the spatial variables system and carry out immediate removals of illegal constructions. The discussions also covered the governorate's investment plan for the 2025/2026 financial year, which focuses on road paving, environmental improvements, and local economic development. Additionally, the governor presented ongoing urban development and lighting projects intended to prepare the city for the New Year and maintain its status as a primary tourist destination.
