EBRD to advance secure and sustainable water supply in Egypt through desalination

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is extending a senior loan of up to EGP 350 million (€6.4 million) to Ridgewood for Water Desalination (RWD), a Hassan Allam Utilities company, to support Egypt’s water security goals through sustainable infrastructure development.

The financing to RWD will fund the construction of new small-scale desalination plants and upgrade of existing facilities along Egypt’s Red Sea and Mediterranean coasts.

These new facilities will help RWD to deliver a reliable water supply to key sectors of Egypt’s economy, such as tourism and industry, which currently lack access to municipal water owing to the country’s regulatory regime. The investment will also improve operational and energy efficiency, while supporting the company’s growth and diversification.

Egypt faces significant water scarcity, namely an annual deficit of around 7 billion cubic metres, with the Nile River accounting for 97 per cent of its freshwater resources. Population growth, climate change and regional pressures have intensified the need for a sustainable water supply.