FILE PHOTO: European Union flags fly outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium March 12, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo

CAIRO – July 21, 2022: The European Union will grant Egypt 117.9 million euros to support the water and energy sectors, according to the Ministry of International Cooperation.

The ministry clarified on Thursday that the grant will benefit the ministries of housing, public services, urban communities, water resources, irrigation, finance, petroleum, mineral wealth, electricity and renewable energy. .

International Cooperation Minister Rania Al-Masha said the grant aims to support the state’s development plans and priorities through effective development cooperation, and in line with the state’s efforts to promote the transition to a green economy and implement environmentally friendly projects. projects, especially as Egypt prepares to host COP27 of the United Nations Climate Conference.

She added that the new grant is part of the desire to consolidate international partnerships, make the most of development finance and strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation, underscoring Egypt’s commitment to strengthen international cooperation mechanisms and financing for development.

The Minister explained that the water and energy sectors in Egypt are considered a high priority by the government due to their importance in maintaining economic growth rates and promoting sustainable development.

“The government is working on ambitious plans to improve the sustainable management of water resources through the expansion of seawater desalination projects and the treatment of wastewater for reuse in the irrigation of agricultural land”, she said, adding that international partnerships have helped fund many vital projects in this area, such as the Bahr el-Baqar water treatment system, the Mahsama wastewater treatment plant and the Yellow Mountain .

Al-Mashat noted that the energy sector has experienced great development over the past eight years, with Egypt having managed, thanks to the large national projects implemented, to move from an energy deficit to a surplus exported to other countries. other countries.

The government is also moving forward – according to the Minister for Cooperation – to develop renewable energy projects from various sources, whether wind or solar, and also to develop the production of green hydrogen.

She pointed out that development partners have contributed to the financing of several renewable energy projects, such as the Benban solar power plant, which is a model to be followed in which government agencies, development partners and the local private sector have participated. and overseas, and Egypt is working to expand these projects to become a regional energy hub.

The current portfolio of cooperation between Egypt and the European Union amounts to approximately €1.35 billion in the form of grants to support several sectors, including transport, water, agriculture, small and medium-sized enterprises, sustainable energy, environment and social protection, as well as the promotion of stability. , governance, capacity building and civil society.

This is in addition to the fact that Egypt benefits from numerous European initiatives and regional cooperation programmes.