14 CultureShock! Egypt
with the high reserves of their neighbours on the Arabian
Peninsula. Proven reserves are estimated to be some
6.2 billion barrels of oil with some 500 cubic metres of natural
gas reserves. Recent oil discoveries in the Gulf of Suez and the
Western Desert suggest these figures will increase. Production
of natural gas is sufficient to meet domestic needs and
provides a surplus for export. Egypt’s other natural resources
include iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum,
talc, asbestos, lead and zinc.Environmental Issues
Egypt’s environmental problems revolve around a rapidly
increasing population, poverty, ignorance and historic lack of
concern for environmental integrity. The current government
is seeking measures to clean up Egypt’s massive environmental
problems, but many traditions are deeply ingrained and the
existing infrastructure is severely in need of modernisation, so
progress is extremely slow. Experimental projects look for new
ways to maintain environmental integrity while allowing for
productive growth.
Of course, the fact that much of the land is effectively
uninhabitable presents other environmental challenges—like
how to develop sustainable desert reclamation. On top of
this, add the fact that the little agricultural land that does
exist throughout the country is being lost to urbanisation.
Oil pollution and new tourist sites along the Red Sea
threaten Egypt’s coral reefs, beaches and marine habitats.
Natural fresh water resources away from the Nile (the only
perennial fresh water source) are very limited although recent
underground finds in the Western Desert may provide new
sources for limited agricultural development. Agricultural
pesticides, raw sewage and industrial effluents further
threaten water supplies.
Natural environmental hazards include earthquakes and
occasional flash floods and landslides, along with wind and
dust storms. A particularly vicious hot, driving sandstorm,
called a khamsin, occurs in spring, making the air thick with
sand, limiting visibility and causing breathing difficulties
among many.