Government Ministers and Arab Organization President Ink $565M Waste Infrastructure Deal

In line with the directives of His Excellency the President and the assignments of the Prime Minister to implement the new system for municipal solid waste management in all governorates of the Republic, aiming to enhance cleanliness standards and achieve citizen satisfaction.

Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, General Hisham Amin, Minister of Local Development, and Major General Engineer Mokhtar Abdel-Latif, President of the Arab Organization for Industrialization, today signed contracts for implementing projects of the fifth phase of the basic infrastructure for solid waste system in the governorates of Matrouh, Beheira, Damietta, Sharkia, and Giza.

The contract signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Local Development headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, in the presence of officials from the three ministries and the Arab Organization for Industrialization. The contracts include the construction of five safe sanitary landfills in Brani City in Matrouh Governorate, a sanitary burial cell in Badr City in Beheira Governorate, a sanitary burial cell in Abu Jarayda area in Damietta Governorate, a sanitary burial cell in Belbeis City in Sharkia Governorate, and sanitary burial cells in the Shubramant site in Giza Governorate, at a total cost of approximately 480 million Egyptian pounds. The Arab Organization for Industrialization will carry out these projects in accordance with the technical specifications and approved detailed drawings, in addition to clearing garbage accumulations in several landfills in the governorates, estimated at over 500,000 tons, costing 85 million pounds.

Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, emphasized that the waste management system is one of the most important mechanisms for achieving developmental goals related to the environment within the framework of the UN goals and Egypt's Vision 2030. She also stated that it contributes to achieving environmental resource sustainability, affirming the Ministry of Planning's support for the new system and collaboration with partner ministries to implement it with the highest quality in line with the state's direction towards a green economy.

Dr. El-Said highlighted the Ministry of Planning's commitment to integrating environmental and climate dimensions into the state's plans to achieve sustainable development by launching and adopting a guide for environmental sustainability standards, greening the investment plan, and increasing the percentage of green public investments from 15% in 2021 to 40% this year (2024), and then to 50% of total public investments by 2025.

She added that the new waste management system provides clean energy sources through recycling technology aimed at energy generation, as well as providing new job opportunities for a significant portion of youth.

Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, expressed gratitude to General Hisham Amin, Minister of Local Development, Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, and Major General Mokhtar Abdel-Latif, President of the Arab Organization for Industrialization, for their support in the fourth and fifth phases of implementing waste management system stages, noting that the journey initiated continues successfully in building the system, not only in completing the infrastructure and providing job opportunities but also in the most important aspect, which is engaging the private sector in building this system.

Dr. Yasmine Fouad emphasized the importance of signing the contract for the fifth phase of the infrastructure of the municipal waste management system in the governorates for the fiscal years 2023 to 2025, to implement a number of infrastructure projects including new sanitary landfills and the establishment of new cells in several governorates including Sharkia, Damietta, Beheira, Giza, and Matrouh, contributing to enhancing the efficiency of the municipal waste management system in these governorates.

She clarified that the contract reflects the constructive cooperation between the ministries responsible for implementing the waste management system, as a continuation of the previously signed agreements between the Ministries of Environment, Local Development, Planning and Economic Development, and the Arab Organization for Industrialization, to implement the first, second, third, and fourth phases of the basic infrastructure for waste management system, in line with the directives of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to enhance the efficiency of the solid waste management system and improve cleanliness standards.

Minister of Environment Highlights Ministry's Role in Waste Management System Implementation

The role of the Ministry involves contracting with specialized consulting entities to adopt technical specifications and executive drawings for the required works, participating in the technical committee to examine, review, and test the contracted works at installation sites in various governorates. This is done in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Development and the governorate within which each project falls. Additionally, the Ministry prepares guidance models for tender documents and specifications for operating the infrastructure after completion, paving the way for private sector involvement. The Ministry also monitors project performance post-handover to ensure operational compliance with the plan and provides necessary environmental technical support for project completion.

In his remarks, General Hisham Amin emphasized the Ministry of Local Development's commitment to collaborate with relevant ministries and entities involved in the solid municipal waste system to enhance its efficiency and ensure safe disposal of waste in all governorates. This is in line with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's directives, aiming to bring about real change felt by citizens in cleanliness standards across the Republic's governorates, especially with the infrastructure projects undertaken by the state in recent years as part of various system programs. These projects include safe sanitary landfills, intermediate and stationary stations, equipment procurement, and removal of millions of tons of historical waste accumulations within the integrated waste management system in governorates. This intervention aims to overcome all waste-related challenges, contributing to preserving citizens' health and safety.

General Hisham Amin stressed that all government ministries involved in the solid municipal waste system work as one team to quickly achieve tangible results in street cleanliness levels across main and secondary streets and various squares in cities, centers, and villages. This collaborative effort extends to national private sector waste management companies, evident in Cairo, Alexandria, Menoufia, Port Said, Qalyubia, and several other governorates. The government aims to create a tangible change in cleanliness standards and establish a sustainable waste management system across all governorates.

He emphasized the state's endeavor to maximize the utilization of all infrastructure projects within the waste management system established in the past period, aiming to maintain state investments and operate them effectively to improve the system's efficiency. This includes staying abreast of the latest technologies in the field.

Regarding monitoring, General Hisham Amin mentioned that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the Prime Minister closely follow periodic reports on the implementation progress of the new waste management system in the governorates, as well as monitoring waste collection, transportation, street cleaning, public facilities, recycling, treatment, safe burial, and closure of random landfills.

Furthermore, the Minister of Local Development expressed gratitude to the Minister of Planning and Environment for the support provided in implementing the new waste management system in the governorates, noting the substantial investments in the waste system in recent years, totaling approximately 25 billion pounds from the state and development partners, including the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

He also thanked the working team in the ministries and the Arab Organization for Industrialization for their efforts in completing these contracts, as well as for the facilitations and increase in landfill capacity, warranty years, and securing the best deals to ensure timely project completion and addressing all environmental requirements.

In this context, Major General Engineer Mokhtar Abdel-Latif, President of the Arab Organization for Industrialization, emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to activate the new solid municipal waste management system, given the utmost significance the state attaches to improving environmental, health, and living conditions for citizens and reducing pollution rates. This includes establishing a national waste management industry and providing new job opportunities.

He noted ongoing success in this national project with the signing of the contract for implementing the fifth phase of the basic infrastructure for solid waste system in the governorates, representing a significant qualitative leap by addressing the garbage problem and positively impacting sustainable development plans. He mentioned learning from the experiences of advanced countries in this regard to familiarize with the latest technologies and methods. The Arab Organization for Industrialization's role lies in providing integrated and centralized equipment and machinery for intermediate stations of various types and constructing safe sanitary landfills and clearing random landfills. The design of the system adheres to all standard and environmental specifications while considering aesthetic aspects.

He emphasized the implementation of innovative methods in constructing safe sanitary landfills, deepening local manufacturing of various equipment, and leveraging advanced global expertise in this field. He reiterated a collective effort toward successful project completion, commending the efforts of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Local Development in ongoing coordination with all system stakeholders.