By Manal Abdel Fattah
Today, the European Union Ambassador to Egypt, Ambassador Christian Berger, accompanied by a number of ambassadors of EU member states accredited to Egypt and a number of diplomats, began a tour that includes the governorates of Alexandria and Kafr El-Sheikh.
During the two-day tour, the European Union Ambassador visits a number of water and sanitation projects that the European Union contributes to financing in the two governorates.
The tour program begins with a field visit to the wastewater treatment plant in western Alexandria, Smouha, before the European Union Ambassador meets with the Governor of Alexandria, Mohamed El-Sherif.
Ambassador Berger and a number of European ambassadors and diplomats will also attend the opening of the European Union dialogue on water with the private sector and local businessmen in the city of Alexandria, and participate in the “Egypt Water” dialogue with young entrepreneurs and young water ambassadors.
The expansion program for the wastewater network in western Alexandria aims to increase capacity and raise the level of treatment in one of the existing wastewater treatment plants in Alexandria, improve the environment, contribute to sustainable economic development, support urban adaptability, and contribute to climate-supporting activities.
The project, whose cost is estimated at 184.75 million euros, includes a long-term loan provided by the European Investment Bank, and an investment grant amounting to 20 million euros provided by the European Union, in addition to investments with an Egyptian contribution.
During his visit to Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate on Thursday, the European Union Ambassador, accompanied by a delegation of European ambassadors and diplomats, will make a field visit to the Motobas Wastewater Treatment Plant (Kafr El-Sheikh) and the Nile Delta Protection Project, before heading to the Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate Office. To meet with the Governor of Kafr El-Sheikh, Gamal Nour El-Din.
The field visit in Kafr El-Sheikh comes within the framework of the wastewater network expansion program through the establishment of two new stations, and the expansion of the three existing wastewater treatment plants, in addition to extending sewage pipes over a distance of 697 km, with the installation of 52 lifting stations in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate.
The project aims to improve the health levels of half a million people, the quality of irrigation water, and the environmental quality of the Nile River, Lake Burullus and the Mediterranean Sea, and it is expected to provide sanitation services in this context to nearly half a million consumers.
The project achieves indirect benefits, including the expected increase in fish and higher quality in Lake Burullus, access to safe agricultural production, improving tourism conditions on the Mediterranean coast, and creating job opportunities.
The cost of the project is estimated at approximately 164 million euros, including 32 million euros in the form of a European Union grant that will be allocated to works and equipment, including drainage pipes, lift stations and access roads.
