The Agrium plant crisis has entered its tenth day, with residents of Damietta insisting that the ruling military council relocate the fertilizer factory to outside the city.
Protesters continued to block the highway and besiege the Ras al-Bar district. They rejected an offer to suspend operation of the factory for three months.
Workers of Damietta harbor suggested that a “panel of wise men” be formed to resolve the problem.
Agrium Vice President Medhat Youssef reassured that the factory was built in accordance with local and international environmental regulations, and accused Israel of inciting the crisis. “The factory constitutes a threat to Israel, as it is planning to build one of its own,” he claimed.
A factory official said the company would file a complaint with the International Court of Arbitration in Paris and request the Egyptian government to pay US$10 million in compensation.
Mohamed al-Rakaybi, president of the Food Industries Holding Company, warned of a potential crisis in foodstuffs. “There are seven vessels laden with foodstuffs holed up in the harbor due to the protests,” he said.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
