As Egypt hosts world leaders to discuss action over climate change, an oil terminal is dumping toxic wastewater on the country's Red Sea coast, according to an investigative report. A rare form of coral that offers hope for preserving ocean life as the planet warms is at risk.
The leaked documents show that the water from the oil terminal is being dumped into the Red Sea.
High levels of toxins, oil and grease are found in the barely treated wastewater that is brought to the surface during oil and gas drilling.
The pollution levels do not comply with Egyptian environmental laws and regulations according to the documents issued by the Gulf of Suez.
The amount of water going into the Red Sea every day is equivalent to 16 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The information shows pollution from lead, cadmium, copper, nickel and other heavy metals. He says that you don't need to be an expert to know that something isn't right.
The leaked documents show that the Egyptian government has known about the wastewater problem since at least 2019. Egypt's state oil company owns half of the shares.
Many commentators saw the sale of company assets as a plan to help it meet climate targets.
It comes as no surprise that the oil companies would rather sell their dirty assets than clean them up themselves.
The sale of its share of Gupco was not part of the plan to meet climate targets according to the company. Questions about the wastewater were forwarded to Gupco.
The environment ministry of Egypt did not reply to the request for comment.
Oil workers and government inspectors are the only people allowed to enter the facility. The extent of the water pollution was examined by the BBC.
Green effluent flowing into the sea can be seen in high-resolution satellite images travelling up to 20 km south into areas with marine life.
Satellite analysis company Soar. Earth used remote water quality monitoring to look at the plume. According to the company's expert, it is not made of some algal bloom but from something underneath the surface.
The earliest satellite image the BBC could find indicates that the oil terminal may have been dumping water into the Red Sea for a long time. The most recent picture of the plant was taken in September of 2022.
The Allen Coral Atlas is a high-resolution satellite tool that monitors coral reefs.
It's hard to see through the water because of something on the surface which looks like pollution.
Dr Gera Troisi is a lecturer at Brunel University London who studies the effects of toxins on organisms.
She says that they are suffocating them and shielding them from the light.
According to the UN, if global average temperatures rise by 1.5C, 90 percent of the world's coral will be destroyed. Despite rising sea temperatures faster in the Red Sea than the global average, the region's "super coral" has proved to be impervious to climate change.
The Red Sea coral is believed to be the key to saving coral around the world. Sylvia Earle says more research needs to be done to find out what makes this coral less vulnerable to rising temperatures.
She says it's important to the international community because it's possible to transplant corals from the Red Sea to rehabilitate the degraded reefs in other parts of the world.
Coral reefs are home to 30% of the marine flora and fauna. In the Red Sea, they are a vital source of income for millions of Egyptians.
The area where Gupco operates should be included in a new extended marine protection zone in the Red Sea to protect the entire Great Fringing Reef. The majority of the reef is in the zone.
The extension was expected by NGOs. There hasn't been an announcement yet.
The Great Fringing Reef is protected from new oil and gas wells by Shell and Chevron.
Climate change is seen as crucial if it is to be brought under control. More than 200 countries are attending the summit to discuss further measures to cut emissions and prepare for climate change, which could lead to major changes to our daily lives.
The University of Reading has a visualization of the climate.
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