Egypt’s Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad has said that policies should be adopted in the extractive and mining industries, in their capacity as a driving force for the sustainable development process.
Fouad also said that this approach helps to provide a supportive climate for upgrading these industries and making it more sensitive to the conservation of natural resources.
The minister’s remarks came during a videoconference while representing Egypt at a round table on extractive industries as a driver towards sustainable development in the Arab region.
In a statement on Saturday, Fouad said that laws, regulatory procedures, and policies are among the most important mechanisms for providing a supportive climate. This is in addition to the means of financing and available resources, whether from development partners or the banking and investment sector, in addition to the advanced technology.
The minister noted that the Egyptian Government has, in the past 18 months, worked to reconsider the law regulating Egypt’s mining process. She noted that there is now a new draft mining law which is currently before the Egyptian Parliament for discussion and approval.
She added that the draft law is distinguished by taking into account the sustainable management of natural resources to ensure that it is not wasted and preserved for future generations.
With regard to the environmental impacts of the mining industry, Fouad said that guidelines for mining in Egypt are being prepared, even in protected areas.
She also highlighted the importance of integrating the local community of protected areas into those industries. This is in addition to taking into account the mechanisms of dealing with wastes resulting from the extractive industries.
