Cabinet approves stricter drug test laws, oil explorations contracts, green financing front the EU, and Sinai land use rule extensions

Stricter drug test laws, oil contracts, green financing, and an extension of Sinai land regulations were given the cabinet thumbs up yesterday during another one of its weekly meetings.

#1- Gov’t clamps down on those evading drug tests: The cabinet approved a draft law amending provisions of the Traffic Law that will worsen penalties for evading drug tests “intentionally and unjustifiably.” Those who evade drug tests will be classed as having received a positive result, with a penalty of imprisonment for no less than one year for anyone driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or driving against traffic in public roads.

#2- USD 133.8 mn worth of oil exploration agreements given the greenlight: The cabinet approved two draft commitments between the government-owned Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company and Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and unnamed international companies to search for and exploit gas and oil reserves.

The details: The first agreement is for the exploration and exploitation of gas and crude oil in the East Port Said offshore area, the second is for oil exploration in the Western Desert, and both projects involve the drilling of a minimum of four wells and provide training grants

#3- The cabinet also approved a EUR 7 mn comprehensive technical support package to support Egypt’s green transition— dubbed the European Green Facility initiative — that was inked between Egypt and the EU in October.

Who’s getting the funds? The money will be distributed among the ministries of irrigation, agriculture, and housing to support water sustainability and the country’s green transition.

#4- The cabinet extended a 2017 ruling on ownership and licensing of land in the Sinai Peninsula that is informally inhabited until 10 November, 2025, with the decision coming “in light of the ongoing submission of requests by citizens for land regularization.”