Egypt’s Minister of Environment, Khaled Fahmy, has opened a cement production line at the Arab Cement Company in Ain Sokhna, Suez, that uses the “Hot Disk” technology for alternative fuel produced from recycled waste.
The opening was attended by Muhammad Shehab Abdel-Wahab, Chief Executive of Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA); Dr Nahed Youssef, head of waste management organisation, as well as a number of representatives of the financiers, and director of the European Investment Bank.
Dr Fahmy stressed the support of the government and policy makers in Egypt for environmental-friendly initiatives. Waste systems have been launched in both Kafr al-Sheikh in the North Delta and Gharbiya in Mid-Delta, as well as facilities for the production of alternative fuels from recycled waste.
He said that, now that waste is being used as a source of alternative fuel, a new waste system of efficient collection and handling of garbage needs to be put in place. There is increased demand by cement factories for such fuel, given the leap in price of coal.
The waste industry, Dr Fahmy noted, achieves an economic return of 15 – 18 per cent, and realises an environmental return by reducing the use of coal, methane, carbon footprint and greenhouse gases, thus helping to stem the aftereffects of climate change.
Watani International
10 April 2018