As tensions rise over regional access to water from the Nile, Egypt’s Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW) has confirmed its plans to pursue an ambitious seawater desalination programme over the next five years involving the construction of 47 desalination plants with a combined water generation capacity of 2.44 million m3/d, to be built by 2025 in coastal regions of the country.

What further steps are being taken to rationalise water usage and where are the opportunities for the international private sector to support this three-stage, EGP45 billion ($2.8 billion) programme?