Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam met officials from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on Wednesday to discuss strengthening cooperation on water and sustainable infrastructure projects, the ministry said.
The meeting was attended by Aida Sitdikova, EBRD’s Director of Sustainable Infrastructure for the Middle East and Africa, and Mark Davis, Managing Director for the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region.
According to the statement, discussions reviewed ongoing cooperation, including the rehabilitation of the Kitchener Drain, as well as projects under preparation, notably the upgrading of pumping stations across Egypt and the rehabilitation of the Rasheed coastal wall.
Sewilam highlighted progress under the Kitchener Drain water quality improvement project, noting that required environmental studies have been completed, while dredging, weed removal and embankment rehabilitation works are currently underway.
The ministry said several bridges along the drain have already been replaced or renovated, with further works in progress. Tenders have also been launched for the construction of the El-Hamoul and Samatay pumping stations, alongside the rehabilitation of other pumping facilities and the development of an emergency centre in Abu Skeen.
In parallel, equipment is being procured to measure water flows and monitor water quality, with additional technical studies being conducted in coordination with the EBRD.
The minister stressed the need to remove obstacles, accelerate implementation and ensure that projects remain on schedule.
The meeting also discussed cooperation on Egypt’s newly developed strategic plan for pumping station rehabilitation, including the potential use of public-private partnerships (PPPs).
In addition, officials reviewed steps to assess the structural condition of the Rasheed coastal wall, with terms of reference completed for selecting a consultant to carry out technical and economic feasibility studies and identify financing mechanisms ahead of the execution phase.
