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Some Aspects of Environmental Management Practices in Algeria M. Zemouli I C T s expert, mzemouli@ens-kouba.dz. Introduction Assessment of the ICTs sector Assessment of the environment sector Impact of ICTs and environment on daily life Gap between regulations and practices
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Some Aspects of Environmental Management Practices in AlgeriaM. Zemouli I C Ts expert, mzemouli@ens-kouba.dz Introduction Assessment of the ICTs sector Assessment of the environment sector Impact of ICTs and environment on daily life Gap between regulations and practices Perspectives and recommendations
Introduction • In Algeria, environmental indicators are used to support the preparation and implementation of the country’s sustainable development plans, and monitor the implementation of pollution abatement and control programs, including compliance with environmental quality standards as well as fulfill the requirement of joining the WTO.
.. • For that purpose, the government established many local entities to improve the global environment and support sustainable development, in progress. • These policies and actions were intended to promote and enhance environmental practices, and enforce regulations and ecological protocols. Measures that would further minimize risks, implement government laws and help bridge the Digital Divide. However and in effect, these measures are known only to lower-ranking staff. • Since the country is preparing to join the WTO, this situation has to be greatly improved. In this paper we will assess the current situation and will show, the big gap that exists between the number of regulations issued and the few implementation made of it.
ICTs Services in Algeria • Availability • Telecommunications services are almost entirely limited to the basic public switch telephone network (PSTN) services. These services are characterized by a low connectivity rate about six lines per 100 inhabitants. • Dedicated data networks in Algeria are limited to certain government institutions mainly to interconnect, higher education institutions, universities, research centers ( 2 to 4 megabits-fiber optics connections ), finance institutions (the C.C.P. network), and commercial organizations (Sonatrach and Air Algérie), as examples).
Broadband Networks • There are no broadband networks in Algeria capable of carrying high-speed data transmission such as the Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) in the range of gigabits and terabits-per-second technology suitable for the information superhighway. • ICT infrastructure • Besides the conventional PSTN services, Algeria is using Vsat mainly for mobile telephony, and have telecommunications earth stations ( Al-Akhdaria) for receiving and broadcasting information to and from Algeria .
Assessing ICTs sector • "Algeria still manages its telecommunications sector as a public property. The resulting inadequate institutional framework led to numerous inefficiencies • as expressed by a growing waiting list, distorted tariffs, • poor service quality, and limited variety of services offered to consumers. • Algeria lagged behind neighboring countries despite a substantial amount of public investment in the sector during the 1970s and part of the 1980s.”)WBI Wpaper 3339, june 2004) • On-going projects • ADSL service was introduced in Algeria on March 2004. There are 30,000 ADSL users on September 2004. • On August 2004 , Algerie Telecom launched a tender for the development of its communication Infrastructure for the acquisition of DVB-RCS VSAT platform to provide services such as VoIP, File Transfer, Videoconferencing. The project includes 2000 IDU terminals, and a Ku band Hub antenna. The Hub will be located at Al-Akhdaria (50 km east to Algiers) existing telecommunications earth station and will be compatible with the existing operating equipments. The network will cover the whole country.
Assessment …. • Besides the fact that Algeria is an oil country and was one of the region leading country in Information and Communication Technologies in late 1960's, it is now occupying low ranking in the sector; mainly because of lake of management and development policy. For instance Algeria is one of the latest to restructure and to privatize the ICT sector. Algeria is increasing its telephony fare while others are decreasing it! The ICT infrastructure is the poorest, the mobile activities were launched late, in precipitation and under the demand pressure careless of quality, the balance of information transportation from and to Algeria was costly and unbalance for years in the favor of one foreign carrier.
Internet connectivity • The Internet development in Algeria is still in a relatively early stage. Since 1994, le Centre d’étude et de recherche sur l’information scientifique et technique (CERIST) is the leading and only institution offering Internet service in Algeria. Apart from Algiers, CERIST has created three different nodes (point of presence) in the country, namely in Oran, Constantine and Ourgla • While CERIST is the only provider of full Internet service, a number of private companies are now offering web creation and hosting services, as well as e-mail connection. Gecos, Procom, ETPA, The ISC in Algiers currently offers, in addition to network and multi-media services, e-mail forwarding service (using Unix to Unix Copy Command – UUCP), Web page design, creation and hosting, Web navigation service, and Internet training. The ISC claims to have a fiber optic T3 connection with Sprint telecommunication company.
Statistics • Internet Host Sites: 32 (2000) • Internet Subscribers (1999): • Total: 1500 (based on the number of Internet accounts subscribed) • Subscriber per 10,000 inhabitants: 0.25 • Internet Users (2000): • Total: 50,000 • Users per 10,000 inhabitants:16.19 • Internet Bandwidth: 256 Kbps (international) • Internet Use by Categories: • News and Media: 13 newspapers, 1 television, and 5 radio stations • Arts and Culture: 4 museums, 21 Algerian artists, and one fashion designer • Business and Industry: over 50 web sites.
Statistics … • Personal Web Sites: about 90 Algerians have created their own personal Web sites. • Education: 5 universities, 2 training institutes, and one continuing education school. • Government: 4 ministries, 3 political parties, and one municipal government site. • Other usage: 2 Web directories, 3 medical centres, 5 professional organizations, and about 10 Web sites are tourism-related (hotels, recreations, restaurants, etc.
Telephony • The following networks operate in Algeria • Algerie Telecom (AMN) from 1999: • Network InformationRoaming PartnersServicesCoverage Map • Orascom Telecom Algerie Spa (Djezzy) 2003: • Network InformationRoaming PartnersServicesCoverage Map • Wataniya Telecom Algerie July 2004: • Network InformationRoaming PartnersServices
Statistics … • Estimated demand for 2004 Offer • Mobile 6 millions 2.5 millions • Fixed lines 3 millions 2 millions • Wireless fixed lines .. 0.300 millions
Impact of ICTs on Environment • Fortunately, because Algeria is not having any significant ICTs industry the impact of ICTs on environment is limited. • However on big cities we start to see once in a while computer components , cathodes tubes mixed with solid waste . • On the other hand ICT helps in : • establishing environmental Data bases • Tele-health • Remote sensing • E-learning • Forecasting • Helping in hazardous situations
Assessing the environmental situation • A high-ranking executive staff from the environment department • lately wrote : • “Pollution, life environment deterioration, ecosystems disequilibrium are not just a possible danger, but a reality and what is terrible is that these situations are becoming accepted and we are forced to give up because we are unable or just ignorant. That is why we need to promote another policy, and go for the implementation of other program, modify our attitude at the individual level”.
Polluted environment • Polluted water Polluted air Ozone deterioration Solid waste • Typhoid, Cholera, Asthma skin cancer, cataract contagious sickness • Diarrhea
Air pollution • Atmospheric Pollution
Atmospheric pollution • Lead pollution: • - Vehicle fleet: about 700,000 vehicles in year 2000. • - 250 Lead tones are disposed in the air in the Algiers region, the disposed gas contains 0.4g-0.6g of Lead per litter • This situation is getting worst every year ! • The WHO recommended, in 1987, yearly average limit quantity of lead in the air to 1μg/m3 and upper limit of 10μg/L. the EU set this limit to 2μg/m3. (3/12/82).
Comment This map is based on the computation of the P.P.I. (Purity Pollution Index) = 1/10 (Sigma (QF) from 1, n, where : • N=number of types • F= each space abundance • Q= ecological index (computed) • The rate of lead is linked to lichens. • The zoning process • Zone IPA range No of stations Q • I 0-7 20 3.2 • II 7-14 20 6.4 • III 14-21 9 9-8.5 • IV 21-28 9 12.8 • V 28-35 4 16.7 • Zone I: is the most polluted sector in the city of Algiers. Lichenical vegetation in this zone is very poor • Zone II : of low altitude (less 100 m) , number of lichens is higher than in zone I, but IPA index does not exceed 14. • Zone III: In this zone the average number of lichens is 8. • Zone IV: In this zone the average number of lichens is 13. • Zone V: In this zone the average number of lichens is 17. • Pollution agent: Sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen Oxide (NOx).
Regulations and practices • A hundred of environment laws was issued and tenth of environment entities were created with no practical impact . It is a management problem as can be seen from the following quotation: • ““Because it is difficult for the members of the High National Consul for Environment and Sustainable Development , an Ad-Hoc committee is to be created to think about follow up these questions. The following are member of this committee : Ministerial representatives, NGO representatives, many sartorial committees a CNUED committee is active with the Ministry of Foreign affairs with participation of many national organizations” (Wssd-country-profile-Algeria.pdf. UN Johansburg Summet, 2002 report). • This is too much bureaucratic manner for a dynamic sector.
Perspectives & recommendations • For last 2 years Algeria launched an important telecommunication program. The last project last month concerning the implementation of 2000 terminals (..) and an important Hub to be located at Al-Akhdaria. • It is hoped that with the new telecom projects and the creation of • ADE ( Algerienne des Eaux), Algerian water administration, and the ONA ( Office National d’Assinisment), national cleansing authority, • The creation of sustainable environment entity • Privatization of both ICT and environment sectors, • the definition of appropriate pricing policy will help in identifying missions and attributions. • Management issue • Political willing with strict application of the regulations • Informing the public and obtaining their contribution This is our hope !
