"Ismail" stresses the importance of the participation of national companies specialized in implementing projects to reuse and benefit from treated water.
The Chairman of the Arab Contractors Company confirms the company's readiness to cooperate with the utilities sector in implementing drinking water, wastewater, and reuse projects.
Dr. Sayed Ismail - Deputy Minister of Housing for Infrastructure Affairs, met with Eng. Ahmed El Assar – CEO and Chairman of the Arab Contractors Company, and Eng. Hassan Mustafa – Board Member of the Arab Contractors Company, to discuss future cooperation opportunities and investment in drinking water and wastewater projects between the drinking water and wastewater facilities sector and the Arab Contractors Company to implement projects and achieve all the objectives of the sector’s strategic plans due to its strategic experience in Arab countries and African countries. This was in the presence of Dr. Mohamed Hassan - Head of the Egyptian Water and Wastewater and Consumer Protection Regulatory Agency (EWRA), and representatives of both the Ministry’s Project Management Unit (PMU), the Egyptian Water and Wastewater and Consumer Protection Regulatory Agency, and the Arab Contractors Company.
Dr. Sayed Ismail began the meeting by emphasizing the role of the Arab Contractors Company in implementing drinking water and wastewater projects nationwide, reviewing the current position of the utilities sector compared to 2014 and before, pointing to the significant boom in the implementation of projects that contributed to increasing coverage rates and improving services across the republic.
Dr. Sayed Ismail pointed out that the sector’s current strategy aims to maximize the benefit from treated wastewater, especially tertiary treatment, in coordination with national companies capable of attracting investors by highlighting modern ideas and technologies for reuse.
Eng. Ahmed El Assar thanked Dr. Sayed Ismail for the exerted efforts in the drinking water and wastewater facilities sector and overcoming the obstacles facing the implementation of projects. The Chairman of the Arab Contractors Company also explored the volume of strategic implemented and ongoing projects in African countries and the Arab world through the Arab Contractors in cooperation with investors during previous years.
Dr. Mohamed Hassan presented the implementation status of the wastewater treatment plants in the Republic, what has been implemented of the secondary and tertiary treatment plants, and how to benefit from the currently treated water.
Eng. Ahmed El Assar confirmed the readiness of the Arab Contractors Company, with all its branches, which specialize in the field of utilities or treated water reuse, to participate in the success of the Ministry’s utilities sector strategy.
Eng. Ahmed El Assar pointed to the size of the JV between the Arab Contractors Company and its various branches with investors and specialized Egyptian universities. He also explored the Arab Contractors Company’s projects to benefit from treated wastewater in forest plantations, which are used in the manufacture of wood or the extraction of oils.
Dr. Sayed Ismail concluded the meeting by directing the regulatory agency to continue following up with representatives of the Arab Contractors Company to prepare feasibility studies to benefit from treated wastewater at a group of wastewater treatment plants, with the participation of entities affiliated with the utilities sector that manage these plants.