Egypt expands seawater desalination plants to face climate change-associated water stress

 

CAIRO – 26 August 2022: Egypt is expanding in building seawater desalination plants to face the water stress caused by climate change, said Deputy Minister of Housing Sayed Ismail in a meeting with the world Bank (WB) delegation.

 

The state has adopted a methodology for the drinking water and sanitation utilities sector to face water needs in light of climate changes, he added.

 

This methodology includes a number of axes: expanding the establishment of seawater desalination plants, benefiting from the expertise of the private sector, and supporting the local industry for the components used in desalination plants.

 

In May, Prime Minister Mousfata Mabdouly affirmed the state's interest in expanding seawater desalination projects during the next stage, especially in coastal and border cities, given the importance of these projects in providing part of the local water needs to support various development purposes.

 

Meanwhile, Egypt has achieved a great leap in the field of water desalination, as it was able to double production within a few years to about one million cubic meters per day, instead of 80,000 cubic meters per day, according to previous statement made by Former head of the National Authority for Drinking Water and Sanitation, and head of the Housing and Development Company for Utilities, one of the Ministry of Housing companies Sayed El-Ashry.

 

El-Ashry explained that this is due to the new plants that have been implemented during the past 7 years, where 82 desalination plants have been implemented, and 14 new desalination plants are currently being implemented with a capacity of 518,000 m3/day.