Egypt advances El Dabaa desalination project and 2040 energy strategy

Egypt's Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mahmoud Esmat, is advancing several strategic energy and water infrastructure initiatives. In a meeting with Ksenia Sukhotina, General Director of Rosatom Smart Utilities, Esmat discussed the development of an integrated seawater desalination complex at the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant site. The project aims to utilize Rosatom's technical expertise to establish a desalination facility integrated with the nuclear plant's infrastructure, while exploring the economic extraction of minerals and salts from the process.

Additionally, Esmat met with international consultant Dr. George Giannakidis to review the updates to Egypt's Integrated Sustainable Energy Strategy through 2040. The discussions focused on the timeline for adding new capacities to the national grid by 2030, expanding solar and wind energy projects, and implementing battery storage technologies to ensure grid stability. The strategy includes plans to manage rising electricity demand and support industrial, agricultural, and urban development across Egypt's governorates.