Construction of more than a dozen renewable energy-powered desalination plants in Egypt by 2025 is on the cards. This came to light following reports that the government of the Arab Republic is seeking partners to invest a total of US$ 2.5bn into the project.
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Particularly, the West Africa county officials plan a total of 17 new plants that would run on energy generated from solar and other green sources, with each built, owned, and operated by Egypt’s sovereign wealth fund in partnership with a group of local and/or foreign investors.
Start of the bidding process
According to the fund’s chief executive officer, Ayman Soliman, so far several investors have expressed interest adding that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the International Finance Corporation will give technical support and advice on the bidding process, which is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2022.
The wealth fund will take a minority stake in all the plants, which are targeted to produce a combined 2.8 million cubic meters of desalinated water per day, alongside the winning bidders.
The objective of the project
The project for the construction of the 17 plants which is a part of a broader plan to add 6.4 million cubic meters of daily capacity by 2050, is mainly meant to tackle looming water scarcity in the North African country.
Reportedly, the nation relies on the Nile River for almost all of its fresh water and is confronting a yawning supply deficit that officials fear will be worsened by the giant hydropower dam Ethiopia is filling on the main tributary of the said river.
Soliman said that Egypt is keen to build a sustainable technology base to control its destiny when it comes to water security.
