G&E Sales participated together with a Bavarian delegation in a business trip to Cairo, Egypt from 9th-14th July 2023, org. by the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development, and Energy, Bavaria International and the local Bavarian & German representative offices.
The mission was to delve into the topic "Wastewater Treatment & Desalination" – a critical challenge in today's world due to water scarcity.
Egypt, with its strategic location at the crossroads of Africa and the Middle East, is one of the region's leading economies. With a diverse economic landscape, the country boasts significant contributions from sectors such as tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, and services. Its steady economic and population growth and ongoing economic reforms have attracted both local and int. investors, creating a conducive environment for business development.
Egypt boasts an extensive network of irrigation canals, stretching an impressive 33.5k kms, ensuring vital water supply for agriculture and livelihood. Complementing this, the country's open drains spanned across 22k kms, playing a pivotal role in effective water management.
One of the highlights of our visit was witnessing the huge Bahr El Baqr Wastewater Treatment Plant – the largest of its kind globally, with a capacity to treat 5.6 Mio. m³ of wastewater daily. Located 10 km south of Port Said tunnels in Sinai, this remarkable project contributed significantly to the reclamation of 400k feddans in the region, fostering agricultural prosperity and sustainable development. The Bahr El Baqr Plant utilized German technologies and had earned Guinness World Records for Largest Water Treatment, Largest Sludge Treatment Plant, and Largest Single-Operator Ozone Generating Plant.
The East Port Said Seawater RO Desalination Plant, a joint venture project supervised by the Egyptian Armed Forces Engineering Authority, secured clean drinking water for almost 1 million residents, aligning with Egypt's water security targets. The Western Treatment Plant in Alexandria underwent expansion and upgrading efforts to serve more than 3.4 Mio. people, addressing the state's population increase and enhancing services in the vital water sector.
The New Delta Project, part of Egypt's land reclamation efforts, aimed to increase the cultivated area to over 15 Mio. feddans by 2030. It became the largest treatment plant globally, with a capacity of 7.5 Mio. m³ of water per day, driving agricultural growth and strategic objectives to boost wheat production.
This delegation provided a great chance for the German and Egyptian businesses to forge strategic partnerships, exchange knowledge, and co-create innovative solutions to tackle water-related challenges, fostering sustainable growth and prosperity for both regions.
Exploring Non-Traditional Water Resources Opportunities in Egypt