Egypt
Country Profile
Population: 76.5 million (Census 2006)
Capital City: Cairo (population – 17 million)
Languages: Arabic (official), English widely understood
Religion(s): Muslim (mostly Sunni) (90%), Coptic Christian (9%) and other (1%)
Currency: 1 Egyptian Pound (LE) = 100 Piastres (PT)
Government: Republic
Head of State: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since October 1981)
History
Egypt can lay claim to be one of the oldest civilizations of the world, established over 5,000 years ago. Based around the river Nile, whose annual flood was central to the country’s prosperity, various civilizations flourished. The Pharaohs reigned intermediately both in the north in Memphis and Thebes in the South between bringing a culture that has continued to fascinate and inspire people the world over with features such as the pyramids, hieroglyphics and numerous awe inspiring temples and artefacts. Successive foreign rulers followed including Persian, Greek, Roman and Byzantium before the invading Islamic armies arrived in 631 AD signalling Egypt’s inclusion into the Islamic faith and culture that has continued up until today.
European influence increased over the 19th and 20th centuries, most notably under Mohamed Ali giving way to a constitutional monarchy in 1922. Following the revolution of 1952, Egypt declared itself a Republic in 1953. The first President, Mohamed Naguib, was soon ousted by Gamal Abdel Nasser, whose leadership over the next 18 years left a long lasting imprint on the Egyptian society. His successor, Anwar El Sadat (1970-1981), was followed by the current President, Mohammed Hosni Mubarak.
Geography
Egypt lies in the north-eastern corner of Africa and has forever been at the crossroads between Europe, the Middle East, Africa and west and south Asia. Bordered by Libya in the west, Sudan to the south, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Israel and Jordan to the north-east, Egypt’s topography is highly diverse. Its north coast faces the Mediterranean Sea, while the Red Sea bounds the eastern coast connected to each other by the hugely important Suez Canal. Less than 4% of the country is cultivated and inhabited, mainly in the Nile Delta and along the banks of the Nile.
The source of Egyptian civilization, the Nile, runs in the country for over 1,000 miles from Wadi Halfa in the south to the Mediterranean in the north. It divides the country into four broad regions; the Western Desert, which occupies almost two-thirds of the total area, the Eastern Desert, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Nile Valley and Delta, which is the most densely populated region of the country. Egypt is dependent on the Nile for nearly all its water needs. The vast majority of the remaining land is made up of sparsely inhabited, arid desert.
Sustainability & Social Responsibility
The Company adopts a Good Neighbouring Policy through which it maintains a two-way communication with the local community of Marsa Alam, contributes to community development and protects the environmental settings upon which they are dependent.
Continuous Consultation with the Community and Stakeholders
Centamin is committed to maintaining an on-going dialogue with the community and stakeholders throughout the project lifetime. The objectives of the consultation is to keep the community informed of the work progress, monitor the effectiveness of the Environmental Management Plan as well as respond to grievances and information requests raised by the community.
This involves numerous consultation mechanisms and communication channels such as public meetings, individual meetings, press releases, website announcements and feedback as well as a grievance system. An effective grievance mechanism will be functioning throughout the project lifetime and available to affected communities at no cost and without retribution.
A comprehensive community and stakeholders consultation process was also carried out during the development of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment.
A community liaison officer is responsible to interact with the community.
Community Development
PGM commits to community development in Marsa Alam where Sukari Gold Mine is located. During the ESIA, fields of community development have been discussed with the stakeholders and it was agreed that PGM will contribute to community development projects in the fields of environmental protection, solid waste management and education. Currently, a community development strategy is being developed to identify mechanisms and procedures for projects identification, selection, implementation and evaluation.
