Providing water to the citizens appears to be gaining even higher priority for Egypt as Ethiopia approaches the 2nd phase of filling of the GERD, which Cairo fears will affect its share of water.
In the end of January Egypt partnered with Russian state-owned company RUSNANO to build a plant to manufacture equipment for seawater desalination plants, Egyptian paper Al-Watan reports. A cooperation agreement has been signed between RUSNANO, the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI), the Engineering Authority of the Egyptian Armed Forces, and the University of Alexandria, says the same source.
On January 22 the parties discussed cooperation on the video conference call. Abdul Menhem al-Toras, head of the AOI, clarified that they agreed to boost the local components to produce techniques that would save on the expenses of importing components for the manufacture of desalination stations and reduce imports to decrease the spending of foreign currency. This step would also help localize production and reduce the price of one cubic meter of water and achieve high added value for the local industry, he noted. No more details, including the project’s cost and time frame, have yet been announced.
Abdul Menhem al-Toras, head of the AOI, clarified that they agreed to boost the local components to produce techniques that would save on the expenses of importing components for the manufacture of desalination stations and reduce imports to decrease the spending of foreign currency.
In this project, RUSNANO is expected to implement technologies invented via RM Nanotech — their joint venture with POLIMERSINTEZ. Established in 2010, RM Nanotech fabricates nanostructured membrane flatsheet and membrane elements, which are used for water filtration and treatment. It is not clear whether any African countries are among more than 50 importing RM Nanotech’s products. Both RM Nanotech and RUSNANO were unable to reach for comments.