(Adds details, background)
CAIRO, May 1 (Reuters) - Egypt has prequalified 17
consortia for the tendering process for the development of a
number of sea water desalination plants, according to a
statement released by Sovereign Fund of Egypt on Monday.
The desalination plants will be powered by renewable energy
sources in various locations across Egypt under the first phase
of the country's water desalination program, the statement
added.
Egypt has been pushing to diversify its sources of fresh
water for a fast-growing population as it faces competition for
Nile river water from the giant hydropower dam that Ethiopia is
building upstream.
The programme involves launching projects with a total
capacity of 8.85 million cubic metres a day by 2050, of which a
3.35 million cubic metre first phase is planned by 2025.
The foreign and local investors will develop, construct and
operate the plants and transfer technology to manufacture
components locally.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the
International Finance Corporation will help structure and
implement the first batch of desalination projects in
partnership with the private sector, the Sovereign Fund said.
The prequalified consortia will be classified into four
categories based on previous experience in desalination
projects, the statement said.
(Reporting by Patrick Werr; Writing by Ahmed Elimam; Editing by
Jan Harvey and Sharon Singleton)
