[Unofficial translation of MEDCOM’s response, received on 16 August 2017. For original response in Arabic, please check this link.]

Regarding the above-mentioned allegations against MEDCOM Aswan Cement, we would like to point out that the cement industry is a heavy industry and that accidents can occur because of the environment in this industry. We work hard using strict workplace health safety & security procedures, which are applied with the utmost rigor and firmness. This, however, cannot prevent individual mistakes from happening, which causes accidents that are just fate.

The incident occurred on Sunday 23 July 2017 at 11 pm as a result of the spilling of raw material with temperature that reached up to 200°C in the oven. The spillage occurred during the installation of a scaffold at the exit of the furnace and caused the accident that led to the death of two workers and one engineer from the company responsible for operation and production (ASEC). The prosecution initiated an investigation, and committees formed by the Minister of Manpower, which included representatives of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority of the Ministry of Manpower, the Civil Protection Agency and the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, reviewed the factory safety procedures.