A government committee has approved 42 of 44 projects and permit requests for activities along Egypt’s coastline, including port, power, and petroleum projects, while deferring one application and rejecting another for failing to meet the required conditions.
The Higher Committee for Coastal Licensing, chaired by Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam, with Housing Minister Randa El-Menshawy participating, reviewed the proposals to ensure compliance with technical, environmental, and regulatory requirements, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said.
The applications included 17 cases submitted by the Tourism Development Authority and 11 by the North West Coast Development Authority, as well as two related to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and proposals covering the Red Sea, Suez, Damietta, South Sinai, Alexandria, Port Said, and Beheira governorates.
The committee approved all national projects submitted for consideration, including the maintenance and dredging of the seawater intake at the East Port Said power plant, rehabilitation of the Gamasa drain outlet in Damietta, and an exploratory well in the Ras El-Esh concession area in Suez.
Approvals also covered dredging of the basin and entrance to Petrojet’s El-Maadia port in Idku, Beheira, as well as dredging work at El-Maadia fishing port and its navigation channel to improve vessel access.
The sand recovered from the dredging operations will also be used for beach nourishment in Idku, the ministry said.
Sewilam said the government is seeking to accelerate coastal licensing decisions to facilitate investment and development while taking environmental considerations into account.
He said investors must submit proposed coastal projects to the committee before beginning construction or other work at the site, allowing authorities to assess their potential impact on the coastline.
The committee is responsible for licensing activities within restricted zones along Egypt’s coastline and reviewing technical studies addressing issues including coastal setbacks and shoreline stability.
