Egypt disposing of dangerous materials at ports: Finance minister

Reuters , Ahram Online , Monday 17 Aug 2020

'What happened in Beirut made us examine our own situation and we actually got rid of large quantities of abandoned and neglected and dangerous materials that were in the ports'

Finance minister
Egypt's Finance Minister Mohamed Maait

Egypt has started disposing of abandoned and dangerous materials at ports after the massive explosion in Beirut’s port this month, the finance minister said on Sunday.

“What happened in Beirut made us examine our own situation and we actually got rid of large quantities of abandoned and neglected and dangerous materials that were in the ports,” Mohamed Maait told parliament.

“There are materials that have been delivered to multiple ministries including oil and defence and interior, and by next December Egyptian ports will be completely cleaned.”

New customs procedures would also improve controls at ports, Maait said.

“We will know who the exports are arriving to, with a response from us to external ports within 48 hours. The shipments would not be transferred from ports of export without an approval from Egyptian authorities,” he said, adding that the system will be implemented electronically within four to six months.

The finance minister said much has been achieved in this matter, but some issues still need time.

“We have already disposed of huge amounts of banned arms and fireworks,” he said.

A few days after the Beirut explosion, Egypt’s civil aviation ministry said it had ordered a review of materials at airports and the transfer of any hazardous goods to safe storage.

The Aug. 4 blast in Beirut, caused by the detonation of more than 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored at its port, killed more than 170 people and wreaked destruction over swathes of the Lebanese capital.

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