By Abdel Razek Al-Shuwekhi and Hussein Sobhy
Atter Hanoura, Head of the Ministry of Finance’s Central Partnership Unit, has revealed a plan to launch 12 projects in 2016 through the public-private partnership (PPP) system.
The projects will see investments estimated at between EGP 16bn and EGP 20bn, in different sectors, including the environmental sector, sports, desalination and sewage plants, and recycling facilities.
Hanoura explained that amongst the projects put forward are the construction of four major sports stadiums, a project to recycle waste and the construction of desalination plants, as well as sewage plants in Alexandria, among other projects.
He said that this year will end with the putting up of seven projects worth EGP 10bn. Two projects have already been put forward, including the renovation of the Commercial Register, for which a tender was announced two days ago. The project for renovating the Real Estate Publicity Department (REPD) will be announced in two weeks.
By the end of this month, two desalination plants projects will also be announced, in addition to another one by the end of October. In November, the river bus project will be announced.
Hanoura added that the electricity projects will be put forward for Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) and Build-Own-Operate (BOO) projects, under the supervision of the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance. He also said that there has been a large demand for electricity projects after the introduction of the feed-in tariff, as nearly 200 companies proposed the production of 2,000 MW of solar energy and 2,000 MW of wind power.
The Ministry of Finance’s Central Partnership Unit will not post advertised land reclamation, as well as housing and real estate projects, but will soon receive studies for road projects in preparation for their launch. These projects may include some of the New Suez Canal Axis projects.
He added that the Safaga Mining Port project, which will be undertaken at a cost of EGP 2.5bn, in addition to a further EGP 2.5bn for the nearby industrial area, will be announced in December. Some companies have expressed their willingness to engage in these projects.
As for projects in Upper Egypt, Hanoura explained that the Safaga desalination plant is serving the region’s governorates, in addition to Safaga Port. Deciding on the locations of the projects, he noted, is the responsibility of the relevant ministries, rather than the Ministry of Finance, which is only concerned with needs, priorities, operation, and subtraction. All projects are undertaken through international IPOs, without favouring or targeting specific entities.
