Cairo: Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly affirmed that the government launched its seawater desalination projects several years ago under the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, with the aim of integrating the water desalination strategy into the state's overall policy for sound water management. He said the strategy also seeks to maximize the use of water produced by various treatment and desalination plants, while localizing water desalination technology components in Egypt in an effort to build national capabilities in this vital field.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Madbouly made the remarks during a meeting held Tuesday, September 1, 2026, to follow up on the latest developments in seawater desalination plant projects and the localization of related industries. The meeting was attended by Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Minister Randa El-Menshawy; Deputy Minister for Utilities Ahmed Omran; Elsewedy Electric Group CEO and President Ahmed Elsewedy; Elsewedy Electric Group Vice President Wael Hamdy; Holding Company for Water and Wastewater Vice President Assem Shokr; and Elsewedy Infrastructure Chairman Ahmed Ouda.
Madbouly said Egypt had received numerous offers from international companies to implement seawater desalination plants and was ready to conclude agreements in this field with companies submitting serious proposals, particularly those involving the localization of industries related to this important sector. He stressed that the government would provide all possible forms of support, as well as various facilities and incentives for companies working to localize desalination-related industries.
For her part, Housing Minister Randa El-Menshawy said seawater desalination is among the ministry's top priorities, given the significant urban expansion taking place in coastal cities and the resulting need to provide sustainable and secure water resources. She explained that an integrated national strategy for seawater desalination had been developed through 2050 and would be implemented through successive five-year plans. The strategy targets reaching a production capacity of approximately 9 million cubic meters of desalinated water per day.
Regarding the localization of components used in desalination plants, El-Menshawy said this represented a key step toward reducing reliance on imports, lowering operating costs, promoting the transfer of advanced technology, supporting domestic industry, and creating specialized job opportunities. She added that the ministry was implementing an integrated plan to manufacture desalination plant components locally in partnership with major international companies and the private sector, contributing to the establishment of a sustainable industrial base in this vital sector.
Elsewedy Electric Group CEO Ahmed Elsewedy said work was currently proceeding along two interconnected tracks in relation to seawater desalination projects: localizing the industry and increasing the share of locally manufactured components to between 60% and 70%. Elsewedy Electric Group Vice President Wael Hamdy said negotiations were currently underway with major manufacturers in the sector in various countries to establish partnerships and localize the industry. He added that an agreement to begin construction of the planned factory would be reached in the near future.
During the meeting, the Housing Minister reviewed the latest status of desalination plant projects, including existing, ongoing, and planned facilities, their production capacities, and the needs and requirements of the sector to implement the projects as targeted. She also reviewed the status of localizing industries, components and equipment supporting seawater desalination projects, particularly the local manufacturing of membranes.
During her presentation, El-Menshawy affirmed the government's full readiness to provide various incentives and facilities to support industrial localization. She said this would help increase the participation of international companies, the private sector, and domestic industry in desalination projects, ensure technology transfer and localization, develop Egypt's industrial capabilities, and raise the share of locally manufactured components. She added that the efforts would also pave the way for establishing a specialized industrial base capable of meeting the needs of domestic desalination projects and expanding into regional markets in the future.