Engineer Mohamed Ahmed Morsi, Minister of Military Production; General Mahmoud Shaarawy, Minister of Local Development; Dr Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment; and General Ahmed Rashid, Governor of Giza, witnessed the signing of a four-party cooperation protocol. The agreement brings together the “Consortium of the Ministry of Military Production and Renergy Group Partners”, the Ministry of Local Development, the Ministry of Environment and Giza Governorate to allocate land in Giza.
The protocol was signed by Engineer Mohamed Salah, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the National Organization for Military Production; Engineer Mohamed El-Sayed Abu Jaour, Local Development for Planning; Dr Tarek El-Araby, Head of the Waste Management Regulatory Authority at the Ministry of Environment; and Mr Shafiq Jalal Hassan, Head of Giza Governorate’s Public General Authority for Cleanness and Beautification.
A national waste-management project
Minister Morsi said the protocol implemented the President’s directives and the Prime Minister’s continuing follow-up on the new solid-waste system. It is intended to provide immediate, sustainable treatment by converting municipal solid waste into energy. The project also supports the Ministry of Military Production’s use of its industrial, technological and human capabilities in national projects that improve citizens’ lives under the Decent Life initiative.
Under the protocol, the Ministry of Military Production and Renergy Group Partners alliance will provide the technology for a Giza treatment plant that converts municipal solid waste into electricity in line with the environmental rules of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Coordination and licensing
General Shaarawy described full coordination among the ministries and authorities responsible for municipal solid-waste systems in the governorates. He said modern waste-to-energy technology could treat large quantities of waste, including in governorates where land for treatment and recycling plants is difficult to secure. The integrated system is intended to improve environmental, health and living conditions, reduce pollution, establish a national waste-management industry, grow the national economy and create jobs.
The Ministry of Local Development will coordinate with Giza Governorate on the required site and support the licensing process. After allocation, it will monitor implementation through commercial operation and connection to the electricity grid.
Tariff and first-phase programme
Dr Fouad described waste-to-energy as one part of the infrastructure programme for the new waste system, alongside recycling plants that produce organic fertiliser and alternative fuel. She said Egypt was working with development partners to introduce waste-to-energy expertise and support Egyptian companies in the sector. She also noted that incineration can treat a large quantity of waste at once without separation before treatment.
Cabinet Resolution No. 41 of 2019 established tariffs for electricity generated from municipal solid waste, biogas from safe sanitary landfills and sludge from sewage-treatment plants, supporting private-sector participation. Selection criteria were established for eight (8) Egyptian companies. The first phase was planned for eight (8) governorates out of 16, beginning with Abu Rawash in Giza.
Abu Rawash site and supply
General Ahmed Rashid said Giza Governorate would allocate the required Abu Rawash land on a usufruct basis for an appropriate period. The governorate would coordinate technical and legal controls with the ministries of Local Development and Environment, considering the site area, the nearest medium-voltage connection point, grid routes and environmental controls. It would also supply approximately 1200 tons of solid waste per day to meet operating requirements.
Mr Mohammad Eid Bakr, media adviser and official spokesperson for the Ministry of Military Production, said the ministry’s cooperation with Green Tech Egypt and OAK supported technology transfer, joint manufacturing, greater local added value, lower imports and foreign-currency savings.
