Cairo: “The Gulf”
The Egyptian Ministry of International Cooperation signed a financing agreement worth 61.5 million euros, with the French Development Agency and the European Union, in order to complete the Yellow Mountain water treatment plant project in Cairo.
The project aims to enhance climate change adaptation efforts and water projects in Egypt, which account for 20% of the ongoing development cooperation portfolio with the European Union.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, and includes 3 sections: a development financing agreement worth 50 million euros, a grant worth 1.5 million euros, and a grant agreement between the European Union and the French Development Agency, worth 10 million euros, bringing the total funding to 61.5 million. euro.
The agreement includes the implementation of the third phase of the Al-Jabal Al-Asfar water treatment plant project, which is one of the large water treatment plants in Egypt, the Middle East and Africa, within the framework of enhancing the sustainability of water resources.
The project serves 17.5 million people by collecting and treating wastewater. The third phase is scheduled to contribute to increasing the station’s capacity by one million cubic meters per day, using advanced technology and tertiary treatment, enabling the provision of treated water for agricultural irrigation and biogas generation. This provides a renewable source of energy to generate 80% of the electricity needs to operate the station, in addition to reducing carbon emissions resulting from traditional electrical energy. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, stated that the water sector is a high priority for the Egyptian state, given its pivotal role in all other sectors, and its impact in achieving comprehensive development, as the signing of the financing agreement coincides with the celebration of World Water Day.
Al-Mashat added that this cooperation is part of the joint Egyptian-European relations under the umbrella of the “Team Europe” initiative, which was highlighted during the Egyptian-European Participation Council in Brussels.
- Joint cooperation
Eric Chevalier, the French Ambassador to Egypt, stated that a week after Egypt and the European Union committed to a strategic and comprehensive partnership, we are here to emphasize joint cooperation, as water security and water management are one of the main topics of cooperation within the framework of the strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union. He said that France is strongly committed to benefiting from bilateral cooperation, to contribute to achieving these goals, as the Al-Jabal Al-Asfar station is an example of what we can achieve through this cooperation, and improving the services provided to about 17 million people in Cairo.
Preserving the environment Ambassador Christian Berger, Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt, said that the wastewater treatment plant in Al-Jabal Al-Asfar is the result of close cooperation between the Europe team and the Egyptian government, as we strive to cooperate for a brighter future and enhance environmental conservation efforts.