The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development has confirmed a loan of KWD35 million ($115 million) to the government of Egypt for a 150,000 m3/d seawater desalination plant.

The reverse osmosis plant will provide the new city of Eastern Port Said, which is under construction, with water for drinking and industrial uses. The seawater intake and brine disposal systems will be designed with a 250,000 m3/d capacity plant in mind, to enable future expansion.

Ground breaks in 2017, and work is expected to complete by 2019.

The project loan is to cover all civil works required for the plant, including a water distribution network of 700 kilometres. The loan term is 25 years, and it’s to be repaid over 40 instalments, with five years grace in the beginning.

At the same time, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development also awarded two grants to Egypt, one to cover aid in response to the Syrian refugee crisis, and another for a feasibility study for a solar power plant, and a factory to manufacture solar cells.