Egypt’s Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla witnessed the signing of a cooperation protocol between the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) and the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority (EMRA).

Under the deal, the EMRA is obligated to coordinate and take the initial approval by the Environmental Affairs Agency before contracting or offering any bid for research and exploration for gold ore, and documenting and checking the coordinates provided for each site on the approved maps and the names of the areas listed on the approved cadastral maps to facilitate their review and to express an environmental opinion on it.

Before starting the implementation of the works, an environmental impact assessment study should be presented for the exploration for gold ore in accordance with the standards and requirements stipulated in the environmental law and the decisions and guidelines issued by the EEAA.

The new protocol aims at regulating the procedures for obtaining environmental approvals for research and mining activities.

It also aims to define environmental controls for mining search, extraction and exploitation, in addition to the basis for environmental auditing and control over mining activities, taking into account the nature of the areas where mining practices are carried out.

Fouad noted that the signing of the protocol encourages green investment while preserving natural resources, explaining that the environmental impact assessment studies that will be submitted for mining projects will be discussed.

The environmental approvals that will be approved will be continuously monitored and canceled in case of violation and non-compliance with what was agreed upon.

On the other hand, El Molla said that this cooperation will lead to adopting environmentally sustainable practices in this sector, stressing his belief on the importance of environmental compatibility and working in accordance with the environmental requirements in the environmental law, by adopting controls and technologies reinforced for that.

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