After more than a year and a half since one of the victims obtained an unprecedented court ruling granting compensation for health damages caused by Portland Cement (Titan)’s environmental violations—and after the company exhausted every possible means to obstruct enforcement of the ruling—Mr. Hany Abu Oqail, acting on his own behalf and as the natural guardian of his son, a resident of Wadi Al-Qamar in western Alexandria, successfully received the compensation amount set by the court at EGP 1 million.

On 29 April 2024, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) won the ruling affirming the victim’s right to compensation in appeal No. 3545/79 (Compensation – Alexandria High Court of Appeal). However, Titan refused to pay, resorting to every possible tactic to delay execution of the ruling—starting with filing an injunction to suspend execution, which was rejected, followed by an appeal. Losing the appeal, the company filed an urgent motion to suspend execution pending an appeal it had lodged before the Court of Cassation, which an Alexania court also dismissed.

When enforcement proceedings resumed after all company challenges were rejected, Titan—whose market value approaches $1.5 billion—still refused to pay the compensation, citing inability to do so. Consequently, some of the company’s assets, such as air conditioners and photocopiers, were seized until the amount is paid. When the payment deadline expired and the victim had the right to sell these movables in public auction, the company found a person who claimed ownership of the seized movables and filed a restitution lawsuit in order to prevent the victim from selling the assets and collect the amount of compensation. On 28 October 2025, the court dismissed the restitution lawsuit. However, the company continued to obstruct the payment of the amount of compensation.

Finally, after nearly 18 months of stalling since the compensation ruling, the company was compelled on 16 December to pay the full amount of EGP 1 million.

The residents of the Wadi Al-Qamar neighbourhood began their legal battle against Titan in 2015. A number of them filed complaints with the Ministry of Environment against Titan Cement over its harmful emissions that polluted the air and caused chest and respiratory diseases to them.

After the Public Prosecution referred the complaint to court, the Dekheila Misdemeanor Court ordered Titan’s legal representative to pay a fine of EGP 20,000. The verdict was upheld by the Misdemeanor Court of Appeal. On 24 July 2022, the verdict became final according to the Court of Cassation’s decision No. 14888/9.

EIPR applauds these court rulings, which culminate a long legal process the victims went through with the assistance of EIPR lawyers in order to prove Titan Cement’s responsibility for environmental pollution and health damages.