Stop the Destruction of Nuweiba and its Coral Reefs!
Strong Objection to the Nuweiba Power Plant Project in South Sinai planned by the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company and to be financed by the European Investment Bank and the African Development Bank.
We kindly ask for to join us in combating a serious situation that is arising in Nuweiba!
We, and other investors, residents and workers in Nuweiba, have, over the past couple of days, just learned of the plans of the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company to build a very large power plant, (750Mw gas powered turbines on a site of 105000 square metres - towering over 82 metres in height), in the middle of Nuweiba City, South Sinai, Egypt.
Financing is reportedly to be forthcoming from the European Investment Bank and the African Development Bank, (even though procedures of the banks and of the European Union for the granting of such financing have not been properly adhered to).
Furthermore, we were dismayed and shocked to hear that this project has been approved by the Egyptian Environment Affairs Agency.
Less than a week after receiving the EIA study, without proper study of the EIA report by ministry experts, the minister of environment approved the project due to strong pressure from the minister of Electricity complimentary.
If such a plant proceeds, it will have a disastrous effect on the local tourism industry, on the local Bedouin population and, above all, on the local environment.
Nuweiba is one of the most picturesque parts of the whole southern Sinai Peninsula, has an excellent and unique tourism potential, is home to two major Sinai Bedouin tribes, and has an almost unique, relatively undisturbed underwater marine life.
Apart from the obvious enormous detrimental effects such a project will have on the local environment and population during the construction period, once operational, the plant will have a negative impact on the quality of air, will reduce the level of sunlight, increase noise pollution and, above all, will damage seriously and irreparably the marine life and coral reefs that lie all along the east coast of Nuweiba adjacent to where the plant is planned to be built. The increase in water temperature will damage the aquatic life in Nuweiba in a number of ways, most prominently by causing a rapid reduction in the number of different fish species found here, causing the death of some and by forcing others to move to distant stretches of reef, but also by inducing coral bleaching and rapidly increasing the amount of algae in the water. This effect will initially be localised to the reefs in the immediate vicinity of the plant, but will, over time, extend to destroy more and more of the reefs in Nuweiba and further afield.
Such a large power plant will also cause the eventual demise of the local tourist industry and subsequently force the closure of the hotels, dive centres and other tourist service providers in the area, resulting in the loss of jobs for the many workers within the tourism industry and the loss of livelihood for the various local businesses that supply products and services to the tourism industry in Nuweiba. Tourism is a major source of income for the local Bedouin tribes so the effects on the loss of this industry are simply unimaginable.
We kindly and respectfully ask your assistance in putting pressure on the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company, the South Sinai Governorate, the European Investment Bank, the African Development Bank and the Egyptian Environment Affairs Agency immediately to withhold approvals for this project pending full investigations, in co-ordination with internationally recognised environmental protection agencies, as well as to hold full disclosure meetings and consultation with local residents, businesses and NGOs as this has apparently not be done. The proposers of this project did place an advertisement in Al Ahram Newspaper, (a single, 1/8th page, insertion on the 8th April 2009 with very brief details on the project and with the instructions that any interested parties should visit certain offices either in Cairo, 470 km away, or Ismaileya, 400 km distant, or attend a meeting on the 15th April 2009 in Sharm el Sheikh, 160 km), but made no other serious attempts to advise, consult or inform the local community.
If you love and wish to preserve the beauty of Nuweiba, we suggest that you sign this petition and file your complaints to the following email addresses:
Prime Minister%u2019s Office, Arab Republic of Egypt primemin@idsc.gov.eg
Minister of Tourism, Arab Republic of Egypt zgarranah@tourism.gov.eg
Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency mseaoffice@eeaa.gov.eg mawaheb@eeaa.gov.eg
African Development Bank afdb@afdb.org investigations@afdb.org
European Investment Bank cairo@eib.org investigations@eib.org complaints@eib.org
Al Ahram Weekly Newspaper weeklymail1@ahram.org.eg
Also, please raise this matter with the Embassy of Egypt in your country, and, if possible, with the international press.
We need your support more than ever!
Strong Objection to the Nuweiba Power Plant Project in South Sinai planned by the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company and to be financed by the European Investment Bank and the African Development Bank.
We kindly ask for to join us in combating a serious situation that is arising in Nuweiba!
We, and other investors, residents and workers in Nuweiba, have, over the past couple of days, just learned of the plans of the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company to build a very large power plant, (750Mw gas powered turbines on a site of 105000 square metres - towering over 82 metres in height), in the middle of Nuweiba City, South Sinai, Egypt.
Financing is reportedly to be forthcoming from the European Investment Bank and the African Development Bank, (even though procedures of the banks and of the European Union for the granting of such financing have not been properly adhered to).
Furthermore, we were dismayed and shocked to hear that this project has been approved by the Egyptian Environment Affairs Agency.
Less than a week after receiving the EIA study, without proper study of the EIA report by ministry experts, the minister of environment approved the project due to strong pressure from the minister of Electricity complimentary.
If such a plant proceeds, it will have a disastrous effect on the local tourism industry, on the local Bedouin population and, above all, on the local environment.
Nuweiba is one of the most picturesque parts of the whole southern Sinai Peninsula, has an excellent and unique tourism potential, is home to two major Sinai Bedouin tribes, and has an almost unique, relatively undisturbed underwater marine life.
Apart from the obvious enormous detrimental effects such a project will have on the local environment and population during the construction period, once operational, the plant will have a negative impact on the quality of air, will reduce the level of sunlight, increase noise pollution and, above all, will damage seriously and irreparably the marine life and coral reefs that lie all along the east coast of Nuweiba adjacent to where the plant is planned to be built. The increase in water temperature will damage the aquatic life in Nuweiba in a number of ways, most prominently by causing a rapid reduction in the number of different fish species found here, causing the death of some and by forcing others to move to distant stretches of reef, but also by inducing coral bleaching and rapidly increasing the amount of algae in the water. This effect will initially be localised to the reefs in the immediate vicinity of the plant, but will, over time, extend to destroy more and more of the reefs in Nuweiba and further afield.
Such a large power plant will also cause the eventual demise of the local tourist industry and subsequently force the closure of the hotels, dive centres and other tourist service providers in the area, resulting in the loss of jobs for the many workers within the tourism industry and the loss of livelihood for the various local businesses that supply products and services to the tourism industry in Nuweiba. Tourism is a major source of income for the local Bedouin tribes so the effects on the loss of this industry are simply unimaginable.
We kindly and respectfully ask your assistance in putting pressure on the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company, the South Sinai Governorate, the European Investment Bank, the African Development Bank and the Egyptian Environment Affairs Agency immediately to withhold approvals for this project pending full investigations, in co-ordination with internationally recognised environmental protection agencies, as well as to hold full disclosure meetings and consultation with local residents, businesses and NGOs as this has apparently not be done. The proposers of this project did place an advertisement in Al Ahram Newspaper, (a single, 1/8th page, insertion on the 8th April 2009 with very brief details on the project and with the instructions that any interested parties should visit certain offices either in Cairo, 470 km away, or Ismaileya, 400 km distant, or attend a meeting on the 15th April 2009 in Sharm el Sheikh, 160 km), but made no other serious attempts to advise, consult or inform the local community.
If you love and wish to preserve the beauty of Nuweiba, we suggest that you sign this petition and file your complaints to the following email addresses:
Prime Minister%u2019s Office, Arab Republic of Egypt primemin@idsc.gov.eg
Minister of Tourism, Arab Republic of Egypt zgarranah@tourism.gov.eg
Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency mseaoffice@eeaa.gov.eg mawaheb@eeaa.gov.eg
African Development Bank afdb@afdb.org investigations@afdb.org
European Investment Bank cairo@eib.org investigations@eib.org complaints@eib.org
Al Ahram Weekly Newspaper weeklymail1@ahram.org.eg
Also, please raise this matter with the Embassy of Egypt in your country, and, if possible, with the international press.
We need your support more than ever!
Strong Objection to the Nuweiba Power Plant Project in South Sinai planned by the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company and to be financed by the European Investment Bank and the African Development Bank.
Dear Sirs.
We, and other investors, residents and workers in Nuweiba, have just, over the past couple of days, learned of the plans of the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company to build a very large power plant, ( 750Mw gas powered turbines on a site of 105000 square metres ), in the middle of Nuweiba, South Sinai, Egypt. Financing is reportedly to be forthcoming from the European Investment Bank and the African Development Bank, (even though procedures of the banks and of the European Union for the granting of such financing has not been properly adhered to).
Furthermore, we are dismayed and shocked to learn that this project has been approved by the Egyptian Environment Affairs Agency.
Less than a week after receiving the EIA study, without proper study of the EIA report by ministry experts, the minister of environment approved the project due to strong pressure from the minister of Electricity complimentary.
If such a plant proceeds, it will have a disasterous effect on the local tourism industry, on the local Bedouin population and, above all, on the local environment.
Nuweiba is one of the most picturesque parts of the whole southern Sinai peninsula, has an excellent and unique tourism potential, is home to two major Sinai bedouin tribes, and has an almost unique, relatively undisturbed underwater marine life.
Apart from the obvious enormous detrimental effects such a project will have on the local environment and population during the construction period, once operational, the plant will have a negative impact on the quality of air, will reduce the level of sunlight, increase noise polution and, above all, will damage seriously and irreparably the marine life and coral reefs that lie all along the east coast of Nuweiba adjacent to where the plant is planned to be built.
Such a large power plant will also cause the eventual demise of the local tourist industry and subsequently force the closure of the hotels, dive centres and other tourist service providers in the area, resulting in the loss of jobs for the many workers within the tourism industry and the loss of livelihood for the various local businesses that service the tourism industry in Nuweiba. Tourism is a major source of income for the local Bedouin tribes so the effects on the loss of this industry is simply unimaginable.
We kindly and respectfully ask your assistance in putting presure on the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company and the Egyptian Environment Affairs Agency immediately to withold approvals for this project pending full investigations, in co-ordination with internationally recognised environmental protection agencies, as well as to hold full disclosure meetings and consultation with local residents, businesses and NGOs as this has apparantly not be done.
We thank you for your full attention and support on this matter.
Save Nuweiba, save the World!
Our oceans and seas are our mainstay...we must recognise that if we do not protect the delicate eco-systems here, then we have no hope of salvaging anything for future generations. We must work harder to preserve marine life, oceanic structures and stop the advance of adverse climatic change. Any future development which involves invasion of or results in deterioration to our seas must only be considered when all other options have been looked into.
Coral reefs are essential biospots... they have been here for millions of years and they are the livelyhood of millions of people . Please stop this destruction of Nuweiba and its Coral Reefs. Yours sincerely, Al Marshall
to protect and save the people , the animals and the beautiful and almost untouched coral reef should be the concern of the egyption goverment,not to sell electricity to othe neighbour countries. the european investment banks should invest in keeping the national parks in sinai clean and attractive for tourism and invest in recycling rubbish, and in education not in electricity. and if the african development bank is in this as well they better change their title into "african destruction bank".
I am a long time visitor and admirer of Nuweiba. I am also a graduate in sustainable tourism development. There is no doubt that the power station in Nuweiba is extremely harmful to the environment on a physical, social and economical basis. 99% of inhabitants of Nuweiba are against it as it is only to the benefit of a few investors and I would not be sure about that either. I pray that this power station will be re-located outside Sinai, a regional of unique natural beauty even from a global perpective
Stefanie Brendel
Please don't destroy one of the most fabulous treasure of Egypt and of the world. It would be like destroying the Pyramids.
It is no use trying to reassure us with jargon - if this Power Station is constructed, vast sums of tourist cash will then be spent in other countries. We like our holidays to be spent in beautiful, safe places - not in the shadow of ecological and health threats.
Destruction - all in the name of MONEY and MALE STUPIDITY. The EEHC can have it's power plant AND the protection of Nuweiba can be achieved IF the politicians and "decision-makers" Use Their Brains and PLAN! But NOOO, Money has already been passed "under the table" to all the movers and shakers, and the "people" at the Egyptian Environment Affairs Agency have had their pockets filled to the brim with Money! This is why they have already approved the project - "Forget and Screw the Egyptian People and Forget and Screw the Environment" is what the EEAA and the EEHC have already decided to say. Money is their only God and the European Investment Bank and African Development Bank are the ones they pray to!
At this time, the world unites to fight global warming and drastic effect on man, animal and plant. Neweiba is known for unique, relatively undisturbed underwater marine life, coral reefs. We, AW groups and organizations strongly oppose this project. We ask EEAA to reconsider such destructive project in the area of Newiba, we ask that Newiba would be granted same protection as in Hurghada. Please stop this project. Dina Zulfikar - Chairperson ANIMAL AID EGYPT - aae@animalaidabroad.org
The reefs need protecting - guard your future and ensure the natural assests of Egypt are there for the future!
preserve the coral reefs...electricity is not worth the destruction of the world
We all know energy is needed but do we always have to obtain energy by distruction nature. Please find a better solution. Like windmills. I think there is space enough
Stop the madness and allow these sanctuaries of life continue to thrive for future generations!
Power plants Invariably raise water temperature because of the out flow from their cooling systems. This will directly affect the local coral reefs causing bleaching and dead zones on the reef. In an area where the primary industry is dive tourism the destruction of dive sites in this manner is insanity. Not to mention the Impact on local beduoins who are permitted fishing rights in the area to feed their family. Destroying the reef will remove the fish and cost these people a major element of their, currently, sustainable lifestyle. This project must be stopped
There are hundreds of kilometers of coast line on Sinai with very litttle population, why you pick the lovely desert village Nuweiba??? Choose another location away from civilisation and give tourists the chance to visit belowed Nuweiba, that reminds so many on old days in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab. Give local people a chance to gain their daily bread by caring for the guests need like ever since.
Stop THIS - Beware the nature !!!!!! Been diving there since 20 Years, will hope i can enjoy this beautifull place the next 20 years. If not i will do my best to tell all divers of the world to stop travelling the country of Egypt. Regard Matthias Pfister
The Red Sea's Coral Reefs along the coasts of the Sinai Penninsula are amongst the World's most beautiful and prolific marine eco systems. A huge electricity plant now threatens its destruction, and the end of tourism in the area. Help us mak
The Red Sea's Coral Reefs along the coasts of the Sinai Penninsula are amongst the World's most beautiful and prolific marine eco systems. A huge electricity plant now threatens its destruction, and the end of tourism in the area. Help us mak
The coral reefs are an irreplaceable resource. The plant must be sited in a way that does not threaten them.
Strong Objection to the Nuweiba Power Plant Project in South Sinai planned by the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company and to be financed by the European Investment Bank and the African Development Bank. We kindly ask for to join us in combating a serious situation that is arising in Nuweiba! We, and other investors, residents and workers in Nuweiba, have, over the past couple of days, just learned of the plans of the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company to build a very large power plant, (750Mw gas powered turbines on a site of 105000 square metres - towering over 82 metres in height), in the middle of Nuweiba City, South Sinai, Egypt. Financing is reportedly to be forthcoming from the European Investment Bank and the African Development Bank, (even though procedures of the banks and of the European Union for the granting of such financing have not been properly adhered to). Furthermore, we were dismayed and shocked to hear that this project has been approved by the Egyptian Environment Affairs Agency. Less than a week after receiving the EIA study, without proper study of the EIA report by ministry experts, the minister of environment approved the project due to strong pressure from the minister of Electricity complimentary. If such a plant proceeds, it will have a disastrous effect on the local tourism industry, on the local Bedouin population and, above all, on the local environment. Nuweiba is one of the most picturesque parts of the whole southern Sinai Peninsula, has an excellent and unique tourism potential, is home to two major Sinai Bedouin tribes, and has an almost unique, relatively undisturbed underwater marine life. Apart from the obvious enormous detrimental effects such a project will have on the local environment and population during the construction period, once operational, the plant will have a negative impact on the quality of air, will reduce the level of sunlight, increase noise pollution and, above all, will damage seriously and irreparably the marine life and coral reefs that lie all along the east coast of Nuweiba adjacent to where the plant is planned to be built. The increase in water temperature will damage the aquatic life in Nuweiba in a number of ways, most prominently by causing a rapid reduction in the number of different fish species found here, causing the death of some and by forcing others to move to distant stretches of reef, but also by inducing coral bleaching and rapidly increasing the amount of algae in the water. This effect will initially be localised to the reefs in the immediate vicinity of the plant, but will, over time, extend to destroy more and more of the reefs in Nuweiba and further afield. Such a large power plant will also cause the eventual demise of the local tourist industry and subsequently force the closure of the hotels, dive centres and other tourist service providers in the area, resulting in the loss of jobs for the many workers within the tourism industry and the loss of livelihood for the various local businesses that supply products and services to the tourism industry in Nuweiba. Tourism is a major source of income for the local Bedouin tribes so the effects on the loss of this industry are simply unimaginable. We kindly and respectfully ask your assistance in putting pressure on the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company, the South Sinai Governorate, the European Investment Bank, the African Development Bank and the Egyptian Environment Affairs Agency immediately to withhold approvals for this project pending full investigations, in co-ordination with internationally recognised environmental protection agencies, as well as to hold full disclosure meetings and consultation with local residents, businesses and NGOs as this has apparently not be done. The proposers of this project did place an advertisement in Al Ahram Newspaper, (a single, 1/8th page, insertion on the 8th April 2009 with very brief details on the project and with the instructions that any interested parties should visit certain offices either in Cairo, 470 km away, or Ismaileya, 400 km distant, or attend a meeting on the 15th April 2009 in Sharm el Sheikh, 160 km), but made no other serious attempts to advise, consult or inform the local community.
