Sayed Ismail, the Deputy Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, recently convened a meeting to assess the strategic plan for seawater desalination set to extend through 2050. The discussion emphasized the necessity of coordinating efforts among relevant state entities to enhance the development of desalination plants.

During the meeting, officials from the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater presented a proposal outlining the strategic desalination plan, detailing the targeted stations for implementation. They addressed the current status of land acquisition for the construction of these plants and the challenges encountered in various coastal governorates.

Ismail underscored the significance of executing the strategic plan in coastal areas to ensure a sustainable supply of drinking water along the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts. This initiative is crucial for meeting present water demands and addressing anticipated population growth, as well as for supporting urban development in new coastal cities.

The plan encompasses 11 coastal governorates, including Matrouh, Alexandria, Beheira, Kafr El-Sheikh, Dakahleya, North and South Sinai, Port Said, Suez, Ismailia, and the Red Sea. Ismail highlighted that the desalination initiative is a comprehensive national effort, overseen by the cabinet and supported by political leadership. It is developed in collaboration with various state bodies, including the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and the Suez Canal Authority, to assess projected water needs.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, through the Egypt Sovereign Fund, along with the Ministry of Finance via the Public-Private Partnership Unit, are working together to prepare the necessary technical studies and to issue tenders for local and international specialized companies.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Ismail reiterated the importance of sustained coordination among different ministry-affiliated bodies. He called for a review of their specific needs for desalination plants in coastal regions and stressed the urgency of finalizing collaborative efforts with various ministries and state entities to ensure the availability of necessary drinking water.