Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli has reaffirmed that expanding seawater desalination projects represents a strategic and sustainable solution for securing the water resources required to meet Egypt’s growing consumption and development needs.
He also stressed the government’s commitment to accelerating the implementation of modern desalination plants using the latest international technologies, while prioritising the localisation of industries related to the sector to maximise added value and transfer advanced expertise to Egypt.
The premier remarks came during a meeting he held on Thursday at the government headquarters in the New Administrative Capital to review progress in implementing the Strategic Plan for Seawater Desalination.
Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Randa el-Menshawy, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ahmed Rostom, Deputy Minister of Housing for Utilities Eng Ahmed Omran, Chairman of the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater Mostafa El-Shimy, and officials from the Ministries of Finance and Planning and relevant authorities attended the meeting.
Prime Minister Madbouli noted that the government has received numerous proposals from international companies seeking to participate in desalination projects, reflecting growing confidence in Egypt’s investment opportunities in the water sector.
For her part, Minister el-Menshawy reviewed progress under the Strategic Plan for Seawater Desalination 2020-2050, noting that Egypt currently operates 129 desalination plants with a combined capacity of 1.4 million cubic metres per day.
Also, 19 additional plants with a capacity of 687,000 cubic metres per day are under construction, bringing the total to 148 plants with a capacity exceeding two million cubic metres daily.
She added that four additional plants are planned in Port Said, Suez, the Red Sea Governorate and Zaafarana, with bids currently being evaluated through public-private partnership mechanisms and the state investment plan.
Deputy Minister of Housing for Utilities Eng Ahmed Omran outlined 14 planned projects across Matrouh, North Sinai, South Sinai, the Red Sea, Dakahlia, Beheira, Kafr El-Sheikh, Port Said, Ismailia and Suez with a combined capacity of 2.4 million cubic metres per day, in addition to proposals to meet future water requirements in the New Administrative Capital, New Cairo and neighbouring areas.
He also highlighted ongoing efforts to localise the desalination membrane industry through co-operation agreements with leading international companies.
As the meeting came to an end, Primer Madbouli directed the swift completion of a comprehensive study of proposals submitted by participating companies in preparation for presentation to President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.
