CAIRO, March 20 (MENA) - Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli Thursday affirmed keenness on following up government efforts in seawater desalination file and taking practical steps with serious companies willing to carry out mega projects in this field.

The prime minister said the government will provide great attention to companies committed to localizing industries related to water desalination.

Madbouli made the remarks during a meeting with Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Sherif Sherbiny, Deputy Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Sayed Ismail and CEO of ACWA Power company Hassan Amen.

Minister Sherbiny presented the strategic plan for seawater desalination (2025-2050), highlighting the capacities of desalination plants within this strategy, which is divided into five five-year plans.

The first plan begins in 2025 and runs until 2030, including 23 projects with a total production of 2.655 million cubic meters per day, the minister added.

Meantime, the deputy housing minister shed light on existing seawater desalination plants, along with devised future expansions planned to be offered under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) system.

He said the number of current plants is 11, with a total production capacity of 485,000 cubic meters per day, with ongoing expansions that will add 225,000 cubic meters per day.

For his part, the CEO of ACWA Power said the company, which has the lowest prices globally, is highlyy interested in working in Egypt.

The company will work on supporting the government's plans to localize the industry and cooperate to qualify specialized cadres in the field of seawater desalination, he added. (MENA)

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