In response to lawsuit, Environment Minister says coal is being used within strict measures
Minister of Environment Khaled Fahmy said he welcomes any lawsuits filed against him from the Alexandria district of Wady Al-Qamar…A lawsuit was filed by the residents of Wady El-Qamar, Alexandria against Fahmy, the Alexandria governor, and Titan Cement Egypt for using coal in their cement production. The use of coal creates highly hazardous emissions, given that the group’s cement plant is located only about 10 metres away from the residential block…Fahmy said the ministry previously sent two committees to examine the problem. The committee however claimed that the pollution is coming from increased truck traffic on unpaved roads and not from Titan. He also said the ministry has previously offered the families alternatives to leave the area, which they refused…“We visited the Respiratory Hospital in Alexandria with a random group of families form the neighbourhood. It turned out that all of them were sick with respiratory problems due to the factory’s emissions, according to their medical reports.” [said a resident]…