As Sharqiya is one of major governorates that burn rice straw and, hence, contribute to the black cloud, 500 tons of rice straw were collected from Sharqiya farmers at the beginning of the rice harvest season, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency head said.

In statements to MENA Saturday, Ahmed Abul Soud said the Environment Ministry has signed this month a deal with Orascom Telecom and Lafarge cement company to establish stations to turn agro-wastes into alternative fuel at 100 million EGP investments.