Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi has met with Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, to discuss and follow up on a number of joint work files between the two ministries.
The discussed files included following up on the plan of environmental sanitation plans of oil companies operating in the Gulf of Suez: monitoring the environmental situation within the Mostorod region; cooperation with regard to petroleum waste; and the environmental challenges facing the mining sector; in addition to developments in the negotiations process regarding the legally binding international instrument to reduce plastic materials pollution.
Badawi highlighted the importance of preserving the environment, pointing out the need to attract investments in current and future projects by ensuring that the sector is compatible with the principles of sustainability.
The petroleum minister stated that this is not just compliance, but is about making the sector an attractive option for talent and companies that care about the environment.
Badawi explained that cooperation between work teams and environmental agencies is crucial, noting that the projects being implemented to preserve the environment, especially in areas such as the Gulf of Suez, reflect the sector’s commitment to environmental standards and achieving tangible progress on the ground.
Moreover, Badawi stated that efforts to align the petroleum sector with environmental sustainability include an agreement with the Emirati company Dragon Oil, which has expressed its commitment to investment. Badawi further noted that this commitment will help secure the necessary funding for the required environmental projects and extend environmental plans in a realistic manner to ensure continued progress.
The meeting reviewed the cooperation between the two ministries with regard to petroleum waste and the need for the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MoPMR) to issue a decision naming the issuing body and issuing licenses for handling hazardous waste.
Regarding waste from used food oils, Fouad explained that it was agreed to present its file to the Cabinet to issue a decision granting the Waste Management Regulatory Authority the right to give companies working in the field of collecting used oils the necessary licenses, to enable MoPMR to contract with these companies, to ensure that there is no unauthorized use.
