EGYPT: accelerating the deployment of desalination stations, for what costs?

The Egyptian government is fine-tuning its seawater desalination "strategy". President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi intends to increase the installations tenfold in order to face the decrease in fresh water resources. At least 14 desalination plants are expected to come on stream in Egypt by 2022.

How to accelerate the deployment of seawater desalination plants in Egypt? The question was at the centre of discussions recently between several senior Egyptian government officials. In addition to the reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation, Egypt is accelerating the deployment of seawater desalination plants in coastal governorates. The aim is to find an alternative to the dwindling freshwater resources. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi has asked his team to prioritise the installation of desalination component plants.