Environmental authorities detected 131 open-burning sites and violations at 19 industrial facilities during the first half of September as part of intensified efforts to curb severe air pollution episodes across Greater Cairo, the Nile Delta and Assiut.
The Ministry of Local Development and Environment said measures targeting industrial emissions and agricultural waste helped prevent an estimated 3,908 tonnes of pollutants from being released during the period.
Environment Minister Manal Awad said authorities were intensifying monitoring, early-warning systems and field inspections to address major sources of pollution, including the open burning of agricultural waste, industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust.
According to a ministry report, analysis of satellite imagery and data from the ministry’s early-warning system identified 131 burning sites across Greater Cairo, the Delta and Assiut. The data are used to direct field teams to identified pollution hotspots.
Authorities also continuously monitored emissions from 173 smokestacks at 32 industrial facilities, recording 26 instances in which emissions exceeded legally permitted limits.
Separate field inspections covered 20 industrial facilities, of which 19 were found to be in violation, while one was compliant, the ministry said. The statement did not specify the nature of the violations or the penalties imposed.
Authorities collected 242,049 tonnes of rice straw across Greater Cairo and the Delta as part of efforts to prevent agricultural waste from being openly burned and promote its recycling and economic use.
Some 31,380 feddans of maize and sorghum were also harvested in Qalyubeya during the period.
The ministry estimated that measures targeting industrial facilities and agricultural waste prevented about 3,908 tonnes of pollutants from being released, including 480 tonnes of particulate matter, 2,188 tonnes of nitrogen oxides and 1,240 tonnes of sulphur dioxide. The report did not explain the methodology used to calculate the avoided emissions.
Vehicle inspections were another component of the campaign. Authorities tested 1,343 vehicles, retested 247 and reached settlements with 235 vehicles, collecting applicable fines. Inspections also covered 227 buses operated by the Public Transport Authority.
The ministry said environmental crisis units were sharing information on open-burning locations with provincial authorities to enable field teams to respond quickly. A total of 165 field committees had been monitored, while one report involving agricultural waste in Sharqeya was referred to the relevant authorities for action.
Regional branches of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency also conducted 187 awareness campaigns, seminars and meetings with residents and farmers, focusing on the health and environmental risks of open burning and alternatives for using rice straw.
No environmental complaints were received through the government’s unified complaints system during the period, the ministry said.
