El Gouna, developed by Orascom Development, has achieved a significant milestone in its sustainability efforts with the launch of its first outsourced water desalination facility in partnership with DesalEgypt, a leading player in water desalination, and Energya Industries ElSewedy Helal, a multidisciplinary industrial group based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, DesalEgypt’s sister company, SolarizEgypt, has entered into a 25-year agreement with Orascom Development to provide discounted electricity to El Gouna through solar panel installations.
These water and green energy initiatives demonstrate a holistic approach to supporting El Gouna’s sustainable growth, ensuring reliable access to both clean water and renewable energy resources.
Mohamed Amer, CEO of El Gouna by Orascom Development, stated, “El Gouna’s progress underscores Orascom Development’s commitment to responsible, forward-looking development of integrated towns that are prime destinations. Collaborating with trusted partners, such as DesalEgypt for water capacity and SolarizEgypt for solar energy solutions, helps us achieve long-term operational resilience without straining national resources. More than a decade after becoming the first town in Africa and the Middle East to receive the UN-sponsored Green Town Award, El Gouna continues to champion climate-smart innovation.”
“Partnering with Orascom Development on this transformative project reflects the kind of forward-thinking collaboration that drives real impact,” said Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, CEO of DesalEgypt. “It is always refreshing to work with teams committed to real growth and development, building a sustainable future together. Both Orascom Development and El Gouna have proven time and again that they are visionaries of that future.”
The new Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination plant, launched as part of phase one of a multi-phase project, has an initial capacity of 2,500 cubic meters per day (m³/day), expandable to over 11,500 m³/day, with additional phases to be built in due course.
This increases El Gouna’s daily water production capacity from 14,000 m³ to 16,500 m³, equivalent to approximately 5.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools. With an investment of EGP 66 mn, this initiative enhances El Gouna’s service delivery while helping to safeguard its long-term, reliable water supply.
In parallel, building on their established collaboration, El Gouna and SolarizEgypt have entered a new phase agreement to expand their joint solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant, with a capacity of 15.8 MW, marking the largest private-sector joint venture of its kind in Egypt.
As El Gouna continues to grow, the town remains committed to integrating environmental responsibility across its operations—supporting both its residents and the surrounding environment. These initiatives align with Orascom Development’s ESG efforts and adhere to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of clean water and affordable clean energy.