Eng. Sherif El Sherbini, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities; Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation; and representatives from the French government, the European Union, and the French Development Agency witnessed and signed financing and grant agreements worth EUR 131.5 mn, Invest-Gate reports.

These agreements are between the Ministry of Housing, the European Union, and the French Development Agency for the implementation of the Al Gabal Al Asfar Wastewater Treatment Plant Project (third phase) and the East Alexandria Wastewater Treatment Plant Project.

The signing ceremony took place during bilateral agreements between Egypt and France, with broad government representation from both sides, on the sidelines of current official visit of the French President Emmanuel Macron to Egypt.

In this context, El Sherbini emphasized that the signing of the agreements aligns with the directives of Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to deepen the strategic partnership and cooperation between Egypt and France in all fields.

He noted that the Ministry of Housing has a history of successful cooperation and partnerships in implementing numerous projects with international development partners, particularly the European Union countries and the French Development Agency.

El Sherbini highlighted that the third phase of the Al Gabal Al Asfar wastewater treatment plant will have a capacity of 1 million m³/day. The project includes the design and implementation of this phase, in addition to sludge treatment using an anaerobic digester system. Implementation is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026.

He also explained that the East Alexandria Wastewater Treatment Plant will have a capacity of 300,000 m³/day, with the Construction Authority for Potable Water and Wastewater responsible for the design and implementation. This project consists of designing and implementing a wastewater treatment plant, along with sludge treatment using an anaerobic digester system.