CAIRO: Members of the People’s Assembly (PA) and local leaders of Damietta have warned of a possible escalation in residents’ response to the continued presence of the Agrium nitrogen and ammonia plant near Ras El-Bar resort.
Although the PA had decided to remove the plant from Damietta, the plant site still remains, much to the ire of local residents who want the plant removed immediately.
“People will wait until the end of the month and if the plant isn’t moved they will take to the streets, but in a much bigger way than in the past, leader of the local opposition to the plant Nasser El Emary told Daily News Egypt.
Independent MP Omran Megahed told Daily News Egypt, “Expect anything [if the plant remains] and any result will be the fault of the government. We are trying to calm people down and urge patience [but] I see a lot of people that are willing to risk their lives fight this. If you are killing us and our kids then our lives are forfeit and it no longer matters.
Megahed feels that the government is postponing the relocation of the plant. Additionally, Emary said that Agrium had hired a public relations firm to promote the plant to the residents.
Megahed said, “What is clear is that the government is beating about the bush on the PA’s decision. It seems the government will do what it wants. I submitted a questioning to the Prime Minister [Ahmed Nazif] in parliament about this and the lack of consideration they are showing the people of Damietta.
He added that MPs of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) met with people from Damietta and told them the plant will not be moved.
Damietta NDP MP Mohammed Khalil Kwaiteh denied this assertion, flatly saying “This didn’t happen. Whoever said this wants to smear the image of MPs from the NDP. The meetings conducted with the people of Damietta were all geared towards opposition to the plant.
“The PA has issued its decision – which I drafted – to remove the Agrium plant. The people of Damietta are not against investment or Agrium, we just want it removed from the tourist island of Ras El-Bar, Kwaiteh added.
Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif said recently that “it was the government that told Agrium this particular location was specified for petrochemicals but there are those that told the people of Damietta that the plant would pollute the area, which is untrue.
“In any case, the people of Damietta have a popular desire to move the plant regardless of the correct procedures that have been followed, he added.
El-Emary has filed a lawsuit (number 460 for the year 2008) against Nazif over the Agrium issue.
“The Prime Minister said he is obligated to respect the wishes of the PA in this matter, and he said this even though the newspapers reported otherwise, Kwaiteh said.
