Cairo: Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Essmat confirmed that the seawater desalination project in the Dabaa area is designed as an integrated development initiative, not only serving the water needs of the Dabaa nuclear power plant but also supporting the broader region.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Essmat's remarks were made during a meeting with officials from Russia's Rosatom State Corporation's infrastructure company. The meeting, attended by Rosatom Deputy Director General Petrov and other specialists, focused on the project's latest developments and implementation plans. Essmat emphasized the project's role in providing a sustainable water source to aid development, urban expansion, and economic activities in the area.

The discussions also highlighted the importance of implementing the project with an integrated vision. This approach involves maximizing the desalination project's added value, localizing technologies and industries, and deriving economic benefits from byproducts. The meeting explored localizing industries and components for the project, increasing local participation in supply chains, and developing Egypt's industrial capabilities to support regional market expansion.

The meeting further examined the potential economic and environmental benefits of the desalination system, specifically through the utilization of salts and minerals extracted during the process. This could lead to the establishment of new industries focused on salt extraction, enhancing the value of byproducts based on technical and economic studies.

Technical and implementation aspects of the project were reviewed, with an emphasis on employing the latest technologies and expertise from Rosatom. Discussions included the project's timeline, coordination between Egyptian and Russian teams, and opportunities for cooperation in technology transfer and training for Egyptian personnel.

Rosatom's Deputy Director General reaffirmed the corporation's commitment to collaborating with Egypt, providing necessary expertise and technological solutions, and exploring industrial cooperation and technology transfer opportunities. This meeting is part of ongoing efforts to optimize Egyptian-Russian cooperation and support Egypt's infrastructure and development goals.