Egyptian Government Research Articles

Techno-economic feasibility analysis of Benban solar Park

By 2035, Egypt pursues to generate 22% of the total electricity from photovoltaic power plants to meet the national spreading demand for electricity. The Egyptian government has implemented feed-in tariffs (FiT) support program to provide the economic incentives to invest in the PV power plants. The present study is carried out to evaluate the techno-economic feasibility of a large-scale grid-connected photovoltaic (LS GCPV) of the Benban Solar Park with a total capacity of 1600 MW AC producing annual electricity of 3.8 TWh. The characteristics of PV panels considering the meteorological data of Benban Solar Park are evaluated. Additionally, the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to constructing Benban Solar Park is assessed. As well, the influences of annual operation and maintenance cost and the interest rate on the electricity cost and the payback period are evaluated. The results indicate that the electricity cost is about 8.1 US¢/kWh with 10.1 years payback period, which is indeed economically feasible with an interest rate of 12%. Furthermore, the Benban Solar Park will avoid annually almost 1.2 million tons of greenhouse gas. Finally, based on the techno-economic analysis, the improvement directions for the feasibility analysis based on agrivoltaic systems are proposed.

Geoelectric and mineralogical studies for foundation soil characterization in new Luxor city, Upper Egypt

The new Luxor city was proposed by the Egyptian government as a new constructional and building site in order to face the increasing population density around the two banks of the river Nile. It is important prior construction of buildings to characterize the foundation soil. So, vertical electrical resistivity survey and mineralogical investigation were conducted for this purpose. The results obtained from the interpretation of the sounding data indicate that the lithological succession of the study area consists of four geoelectric layers. The top layer corresponds to the surface loose sediments of conglomerate, gravel, and sand. The second geoelectric layer is composed of sand and gravel. The third layer is composed of silty clay, sandy clay, and clayey sand. The fourth geoelectric layer is composed of dry sandstone. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results of samples collected from the clay-rich layer revealed the presence of smectite mineral as predominate clay minerals which is characterized by its swell potentiality on wetting. Accordingly, the clay zone recorded within the third layer must be taken into consideration during designing the foundations at new Luxor city especially this layer was located at shallow depth range between 1.6 and 7.5 m and attains a relatively big thickness that reach up to 33.5 m in some parts. This study emphasizes the importance of the integration of geophysical investigation and mineralogical analysis of the foundation soil for optimal characterization of a site.

The Effective Strategies for Mitigation the Impact of Co ategies for Mitigation the Impact of Covid-19 on vid-19 on Construction Projects in Egypt

From the time when the first narrated infections in Wuhan China, in late 2019, COVID-19 has had a substantial peal on human life and health. By the early of 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the eruption of COVID-19, a public health crisis of international concern. On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization officially announced COVID-19 a pandemic. The first case was infected in Egypt of covid-19 on Feb 14, 2020 (Gilbert et al., 2020). On 16 March 2020, the Egyptian Government began issuing decisions as preventative courses as part of the country's inclusive plan to cope with any potential Coronavirus ramifications (Essa et al., 2022). The prevalence of the covid-19 pandemic and precautionary measures taken by the countries from the ban and closure had had an impact on the different business sectors (Rothan & Byvydy, 2020). Therefore, the study aimed at evaluating the influence of COVID-19 on the construction performance in Egyptian projects. Besides, assessment of the work option strategies under COVID-19 outbreak.

Beyond Scarcity: An Assessment of Water Management in Egypt from A Political Ecology Perspective

Water management constitutes a challenge for contemporary Egypt, as the country faces a water shortage that, in certain areas, might endanger the basic needs of people in the dry season. This article seeks to understand the origin of water problems, and argues that beyond existing scarcity due to environmental challenges, current sociopolitical conditions play a significant role. Egypt is socially, economically, and environmentally in a difficult position to be sustainable. The paper utilizes the political ecology approach to shed light on the nexus between the fields mentioned above and tries to create an integrated and comprehensive strategy to analyze the water problems and possible solutions for contemporary Egypt. SWOT analysis helps evaluate the existing conditions (strengths and weaknesses) and potentialities (opportunities and threats) for the Egyptian agriculture and water management sector. Three different angles are utilized during the analysis: the infrastructural background (the economic aspect), the institutional basis (the political aspect), and the international impacts (the environmental aspect) that affect water policy. Regarding the mounting challenges, a slow change of the system is expected, but negative changes in the natural environment could accelerate pressure on Egyptian society and government to adjust. However, the support of international partners to maintain a politically and socially stable Egypt contributes to maintaining archaic political-economic structures that are unsustainable.

Early Egyptian Radio

Abstract This article historically traces some of Egypt’s early private radio stations which operated from the late-1920s until May 1934 when they were all forcefully shut down by the Egyptian government. It sheds light on this important early period in Egyptian media history and highlights the role of many unacknowledged early radio pioneers. More importantly, the article analyzes the early forced transition to government-controlled radio and the impact this sudden shift must have had on the owners, producers and listeners of these stations as well as its broader implications on Egypt’s media landscape. This top-down transition from media-capitalism to what I call media-etatism started with radio in the 1930s and, later on under Gamal Abdel Nasser, expanded to print and other media, exemplifying state control of media in Egypt for at least an entire generation.

Acceptance of the learning management system in the time of COVID-19 pandemic: An application and extension of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model

After the spread of the coronavirus around the world, the Egyptian government imposed blended learning on higher education institutions. Consequently, colleges and universities in Egypt are entering a new era where learning is not confined to the classroom alone but also through learning management systems (LMSs). Thus, this study adopts the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to study how students accept and use the LMSs. An online survey was conducted through a structured questionnaire to collect quantitative data for analysis. Obtained data from 803 respondents were analyzed using structural equation modelling Partially least squares regression was used for the model and hypothesis testing. The results show that trust is vital in determining the acceptance and use of LMSs. The study results may provide insights into a better approach to promoting LMS acceptance.

EFFECT OF SOME TREATMENTS ON PEA PRODUCTIVITY AND SOME SOIL PROPERTIES

In light of the comprehensive agricultural renaissance strategy that the Egyptian government seeks to it for achieving food security, improving the growth and productivity of the pea plants has become an essential matter for workers in the plant nutrition field. So, a field experiment was executed during two successive winter seasons (2020/2021 and 2021/2022) aiming to evaluate the influence of soil addition of both potassium sulphate (K2SO4, 48% K2O) at different rates [100,75 and 50% of potassium recommended dose (KRD)] as main plots and potassium humate (KH) as sub main plots [applied (at rate of 15.0 kg fed-1) or not] as well as foliar application of some stimulants as sub-sub main plots i.e., control (without foliar application), boron (B) as boron ethanolamine (10% B) at rate of 100 mg L-1, salicylic acid (SA) at rate of 100 mg L-1 and combined treatment of both B and SA at the same rates on the performance and productivity of pea plants as well as soil fertility. The findings illustrated that 100% of KRD was the superior treatment followed by 75 and 50%, respectively. Also, pea plants treated with potassium humate possessed the growth performance, yield and quality traits better than that grown without potassium humate. Concerning the exogenous applications, the superior treatment was the combined treatment of both B and SA, while the treatment of SA alone came in the second order followed by B treatment alone and lately the control treatment (without spraying). Generally, it can be concluded that the best growth performance, yield and quality traits were realized with pea plants fertilized with 100% of KRD in the presence of potassium humate as soil addition and simultaneously with B and SA as a combined foliar application. Also, all studied soil properties, except soil pH, differed due to all studied treatment.

Food handlers' knowledge, attitude, and practices about safe and hygienic food in Egyptian government hospitals

Food handlers' knowledge, attitude, and practices about safe and hygienic food in Egyptian government hospitals

Time-Trend Analysis of Bladder Cancer and its Association with Bilhariziasis in Egypt

Background: Both bladder cancer and schistosomiasis are endemic in Egypt. The former has a unique epidemiological pattern, which has been linked to bladder infestation by Schistosoma. The last decades have witnessed a great reduction in the infection rate of schistosomiasis and a decline in the incidence and changes in the patterns of bladder cancer. Whether these changes are linked to each other or a co-incidence is a subject of investigations. Method: Literature on epidemiological data of bladder cancer and Schistosoma in Egypt was searched for in Medline, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Furthermore, a hand search for literature and reports released by the Egyptian government and involved agencies was performed. Results: Studies describe an overall reduction in Schistosoma infection rate from 80% in 1920s to 1.2% in 2006. Studies on bladder cancer epidemiology, on the other hand, agree on a decline in incidence and changes in the pattern, but differ in figures describing the magnitude of these changes. Many studies tried to ling the changes in Schistosoma and bladder cancer patterns. The evidence for this link, however, seems to be insufficient for a cause-and-effect relationship. Conclusion: The relationship between the reduction in schistosomiasis infection rate and the changes in bladder-cancer epidemiological pattern in Egypt cannot be overlooked, but needs to be proved by more reliable evidence like prospective studies that include local health facilities and tertiary cancer centers. Objective: explore the possible cause-and-effect relationship between the changes in Schistosoma infection rates and incidence and patterns of bladder cancer in Egypt.

Evaluation of the effect of the COVID-19 crisis on sexual health in Egypt: An online national survey with the collaboration of the I-SHARE (International Sexual Health And REproductive Health) survey

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic and related distancing measures have affected the sexual health in both males and females. These harm effects might be caused due to psychological factors. Although the impact of COVID-19 on the sexual health is variable among different countries, it is not studied well in Egypt.ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate how the social distancing measures that was taken by the Egyptian government during the COVID-19 health crisis, affect the family situation, and sexual relationship.MethodsAn international online survey was conducted to evaluate the sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing in times of the COVID-19 crisis in Egypt. An online informed consent was obtained from all participants. The survey was available in the Arabic language for only Egyptian citizens and/or residents who are speaking Arabic and older than 18 years old. This survey has been a part of the I-SHARE (International Sexual Health And REproductive Health) Survey that examines the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on sexual and reproductive health. Participation in this survey was anonymous.ResultsTotal respondents were 1021 with 53.2% (544/1021) were males. Most participants were young age (age 21-30, 31-40 years were 41.9, 29.9 % respectively). Participants were mainly from the Large Cairo (24.5%) and Delta (15.2%) provinces with most of them were Muslim (91.2%). 40.5% were legally married and living together. As regards the COVID-19 social distancing measures, they follow them a lot and very strictly follow 37.3, 33 % respectively.77.4% never undergone testing for COVID-19 and only 9% was tested positive. More than half (56.5%) reported that the economic situation become worse during the social distancing measures. Alcohol and Cannabis intake were (6, 4.2% monthly or less, 5.6, 4% 2-4 times/month) respectively before the social distancing measures, and were increased during the distancing measures (8, 5.7% monthly or less, 7, 8.1% 2-4 times/month) respectively. Satisfaction about sexual life was changed from (45.1% very satisfied, 26.2% somewhat satisfied) before the COVID-19 measures to (38.2% very satisfied, 31.7% somewhat satisfied) during them. Also, frequency of sexual intercourse (25.2% 2-4/month, 17.9% 2-3/week) before the COVID-19 measures stayed the same 74% and decreased a lot in 19.7% during the COVID-19 measures. Frequency of Masturbation was (16.4% monthly or less, 11.6% 2-4/month) before the COVID-19 measures stayed the same 39.6%, decreased a lot 37.6% and increased a lot 6.4% during the COVID-19 measures. Also, watching pornography was (15% monthly or less, 10% 2-4/month) before the COVID-19 measures and decreased a lot 41.7%, stayed the same 35.9% and increased a lot 6.2% during the COVID-19 measures. In addition, frequency of sexting was (10% 2-4/month, 8% monthly or less) before the COVID-19 measures and decreased a lot 43%, stayed the same 38.5% and increased a lot 6.9% during the COVID-19 measures.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic and the associated social distancing measures have various effects on the different aspects of the sexual life. These effects might be caused through the impairment of the psychological status and worsening of the economic status during the COVID-19 measures.DisclosureWork supported by industry: no.

The Egyptian stock market's reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to empirically examine the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Egyptian stock market returns and volatility between July 2018 and June 2021.Design/methodology/approachThis study utilizes a generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model to examine the impact of COVID-19 on two basic stock market indices (EGX30 and EGX100). In addition, the heteroskedasticity corrected model (HCM) was employed to differentiate between the effects of each subsequent wave of the pandemic.FindingsThe results of the GARCH model revealed that all COVID-19 variables have a significant impact on the daily returns of EGX100, but an insignificant impact on that of EGX30. The mortality rate and transmission speed increased the market volatility of EGX30 daily returns. The results of the HCM confirmed that the Egyptian stock market reacted more nervously to the first wave than to the second, while the impact was not detected in the third wave.Practical implicationsThis study provides useful insights to investors and policymakers in handling the negative influence of unanticipated events. To retain economic stability, the Egyptian government can impose fiscal stimuli and consider policies to combat the impact of the pandemic.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first attempts to differentiate between the effects of subsequent waves of the pandemic on the stock market in Egypt, one of the largest economies in Africa.

Peran PCNU Mesir sebagai Aktor Multitrack Diplomacy

This study discusses the role of Nahdlatul Ulama Special Branch Boards (PCINU) in Egypt as an organization in multitrack diplomacy especially track 7, religion. The similarity in understanding religious moderation makes PCINU Egypt acceptable to citizens and the Egyptian government. PCINU also established cooperation with various institutions in Egypt. This research is qualitative research using a type of descriptive analysis research with a qualitative approach. Regarding data collection, the authors conducted in-depth interviews and looked for literature sources. This research concludes that PCINU Egypt has an active role in religion diplomacy efforts in Egypt. PCINU conducts religion diplomacy and promotes interrelation peace and harmony in Egypt.

Estimation of Cadmium in Muscles of Five Freshwater Fish Species from Manzalah Lake, and Possible Human Risk Assessment of Fish Consumption (Egypt)

The Egyptian government devised a plan in 2016 to improve the unique ecological significance of northern lakes, which mentioned Manzalah Lake in the Egypt Vision 2030. In this regard, this study investigated cadmium (Cd) content in five freshwater fish species collected from Manzalah Lake in Egypt at 2018 by local fishermen. According to the findings, Clarias gariepinus recorded the highest concentration of Cd (1.40 ± 0.2 μg/g) and the lowest concentration was recorded in O. aureus (1.19 ± 0.2 μg/g). Cadmium contents of all species were largely above the permissible level of the Food Agricultural Organization (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO) and Commission Regulation (EC). The estimated daily intake (EDI), the estimated weekly intake (EWI), and the percentages of provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI %) values for Cd in the C. gariepinus > Sarotherodon galilaeus > Tilapia zillii > Oreochromis niloticus > Oreochromis aureus which consumed by children, teenagers, and adults were much higher than the PTWI values established by FAO/WHO. In addition, C. gariepinus consumed by children showed the highest value of the target hazard quotient (THQ) (5.83 a day or 40.81 a week) while O. aureus that ingested by adults showed the lowest level (1.06 a day or 7.42a week). The target carcinogenic risk (TCR) of C. gariepinus in children had the greatest level (2.21 × 10−3 a day or 1.55 × 10−2 a week), whereas O. aureus in adults had the lowest level of TCR (4 × 10−4 a day or 2.81 × 10−3 a week). THQs values of Cd in the five studied species were found higher than one. Moreover, TCRs values of Cd in the five species were exceeded the US Environmental Protection Agency guideline USEPA permissible limits suggesting that a daily or weekly consumption of these species could lead to a high risk non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic for humans.

Rethinking Egypt’s ‘Failed’ Desert Cities: Autocracy, Urban Planning, and Class Politics in Sadat’s New Town Programme

ABSTRACT The Sisi regime’s New Administrative Capital is the latest iteration of Egypt’s multidecade-long programme to build desert cities. Judging by the programme’s primary stated rationale, to geographically redistribute the population, the new towns have failed. This article asks why have successive Egyptian regimes nevertheless kept building desert cities? Scholars have analysed how the Mubarak regime used new towns to clientelize elites by distributing land in government-serviced desert cities. Drawing on planning documents and accounts of the social and economic conditions in the early Sadat-era new towns, particularly Tenth of Ramadan City, this article makes an original contribution by illustrating how deeply political, not simply developmental, logics have undergirded Egyptian new town development from its inception in the 1970s. During its first two decades, the spatially secluded industrial cities allowed the regime to flexibly experiment with the right number of incentives to compel the previously marginalized business classes to reinvest in the economy. Moreover, in gridded, legible new towns, the regime could segregate, surveil, and supervise labour in booming private sector industries. The case of the Egyptian new towns helps explain both autocrats’ longstanding penchant for building new cities as well as a resurgence of master-planned urban megaprojects in contemporary autocracies.

A Feminist Ethos of Point Zero

A Feminist Ethos of Point Zero

A study on the impact of extreme weather events on the ceramic manufacturing in Egypt

Nowadays, global economic production is organized around a complex system of highly interdependent supply chains that are currently enormously disrupted due to COVID 19. What would happen if a fast-growing risk could pose a more significant threat to our supply chains? Are our supply chains resilient to climate change? Even though governments, businesses, and climate change organizations in developed countries are forced to work together trying to mitigate and adapt to this fast-moving phenomenon, developing countries like Egypt are less concerned about this topic. This study has developed a system dynamic model based on a four-phase mixed methodology approach; we captured the complex interconnected interactions between supply chain performance and climate change physical risks. A cognitive map was first developed to capture the relationship between the climate change physical risks variables and the supply chains. Then, historical climate data and data from a ceramic manufacturing company were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). A case study of a ceramic manufacturing company located in Egypt is provided to show the applicability of our developed system dynamic model. Lastly, we simulated different scenarios to assess the ramifications and consequences of climate change extreme weather-related events on the manufacturing process of the selected case company. We have observed a negative impact; a decrease in the manufacturing inventory level and production rate, total received orders and sales. As far as our knowledge, our study is the first to investigate the impacts of climate change extreme weather events on supply chains located in Egypt. Our main contribution is to prove and establish awareness among business owners, organizations, decision-makers and the Egyptian government that climate change and related extreme weather events exist and disruptions due to this fast-moving phenomenon must be considered. • We analyze the impact of climate-related factors on ceramic production in Egypt. • Both climate factors and the manufacturing process are highly correlated. • A system dynamic approach is developed to model various climate change scenarios.

Middle-Class Employees in the Egyptian Uprising of 2011

As participants in political and workplace protests, middle-class employees (MCEs) were overrepresented during the 18 days of the Egyptian uprising of 2011. This is quite surprising, because the democracy movement that called for the uprising had limited organizational capacities that could not have mobilized these sectors, and MCEs historically constituted the social base of the Egyptian regime. By the 2000s, however, the decline in state institutions that tied MCEs to the regime had intensified, aggravating their grievances. I argue that those MCEs who were able to build formal organizations or had joined the democracy movement were mobilized through a formal path, while those who did not joined spontaneously. Spontaneous action here was institutionally structured. It built on preexisting informal networks and prior experiences in both workplace and work-related anti-regime protests. The democracy movement thus created an opening for already aggrieved and mobilized MCEs to join the uprising.

From The Hidden Face of Eve to AWSA Activism to Tahrir

From <i>The Hidden Face of Eve</i> to AWSA Activism to Tahrir

Inflation and Education Expenditure: Evidence from Egypt

For Egypt, there are no previous studies, at any time, that investigate the impact ‎of changes in inflation on education expenditure. ‎In addition, previous studies do not handle endogeneity while estimating the inflation-education expenditure model. Therefore, this paper empirically investigates the relationship between inflation and education expenditure in Egypt (1976-2019). Correcting for the potential endogeneity, the GMM model has been conducted. Our findings reveal that inflation plays a fundamental role in explaining education expenditure per student in Egypt. That is, rising inflation has a deleterious effect on education expenditure. Moreover, there is no significant crowding-out effect among education expenditure and the rival expenditure programs in the Egyptian government’s budget. Finally, we suggest policymakers to keep inflation rates low to avoid their deleterious effects on education expenditure. Keywords: Education expenditure, Inflation, Egypt, Kapetanios unit root test, Structural breaks DOI: 10.7176/JESD/13-4-07 Publication date: February 28 th 2022

Water Profitability Analysis to Improve Food Security and Climate Resilience: A Case Study in the Egyptian Nile Delta

The food self-sufficiency policy has always featured as an unquestionable policy objective for Egypt. This is understandable when one considers both the high population growth and the social and political vulnerability associated with a dependence on food imports and world market food prices such as wheat. Intensive agriculture has led to a growing subsidy burden for the Egyptian government. In addition, the agricultural fields in Egypt are commonly distributed with relatively small sizes parcels that usually reduce the reliability of the agricultural sector, particularly in the delta region, to meet the national food policy. On top of that, climate change, through changing weather patterns and increased temperatures, is affecting agricultural yields and thus farmers’ livelihoods. A water profitability analysis was conducted for three governorates in the Nile Delta in Egypt to establish a baseline and assess the net return per unit of water of the main crops in each of these governorates; this can act as a reference of the water profitability of different crops before they are affected by climate change and other internal and external factors. The analysis was based on extensive in-person surveys in each governorate in addition to workshop discussions with farmers. The study has highlighted the impact of a lack of extension services, which limits farmers’ ability to increase their land and water productivity. Farmers with more access to subsidized production inputs managed to achieve higher levels of water profitability even on smaller lands. Finally, we drew from our findings key policy actions to improve water profitability and land productivity for farmers in the Nile Delta to achieve higher levels of food security. This will help build resilient food production systems that are reliable in the face of climate change and other drivers. In addition, an integrated nexus strategy and plan for the inter- and intra-country is recommended to address the challenges related to food and climate security.