Khaberni - The Ministry of Environment announced the introduction of new amendments to the appendices of the Environmental Classification and Licensing System No. (69) for the year 2020, in a step aimed at enhancing the investment environment and simplifying procedures for economic projects while maintaining the approved levels of environmental and health protection.
The ministry's statement today, Sunday, clarified that the amendments included the fifth appendix of the system concerning special conditions for developmental activity sites, where the safe distances between developmental projects, residential assemblies, sensitive establishments, and water sources were reduced.
The amendments also included reducing the required distances for a number of industries such as food factories, paper and cardboard factories, cosmetic materials, and craft workshops, allowing them to be established closer to roads and industrial areas after previous restrictions posed challenges to implementing such projects.
The amendments also provided for the reclassification of a number of small and medium activities, where some activities were moved from category three, which requires the ministry's approval, to category four, which only requires compliance with general environmental conditions without the need to consult the ministry.
The most notable of these activities are: warehouses, food preparation workshops, car parking and overnight parking lots, land reclamation as well as a number of commercial and service activities.
The ministry confirmed that the goal of this step is to simplify procedures and speed up the processing of transactions while maintaining strict environmental supervision for major projects and activities with a high environmental impact.
It emphasized that these amendments came after precise scientific studies and reviews, stating that simplifying procedures does not mean laxity in applying environmental standards, as the ministry will continue to monitor the projects' compliance with the established controls and conditions to ensure environmental protection and conservation of natural resources.
These amendments are part of the ongoing efforts of the Ministry of Environment to create a flexible and competitive investment environment, balancing economic development requirements and environmental sustainability goals in line with the vision of economic modernization to support the green economy and achieve sustainable development.
