Egypt: environment rules to harden

The Environment Ministry will stiffen penalties against violators of environmental regulations in the face of the so-called black cloud. The dark polluting haze has been attributed to the burning of coal and farmers burning rice straw after their harvest.

The ministry will launch investigations against drivers of cars with excessive emissions as well as cement and brick factories, Environment Minister, Khaled Fahmi, said.

He added that the ministry will not condone coal-fired power plants, explaining that no factories will be allowed to depend on coal energy in the coming period except cement factories and power stations abiding by environment protection regulations. He added that coal-fired power stations will be built within four years outside Cairo.