Egypt issues tenders for 17 new desalination plants Eyes adding 2.8 mln cubic metres’ daily desalting capacity To buy water from private plants for subsidised re-sale Emphasis on using solar energy to expand desalination KarmSolar firm aims to cut costs by integrating utilities CAIRO, Oct 21 (Reuters) – Water-scarce Egypt aims to more than quadruple desalination capacity by granting private companies concessions from its sovereign wealth fund to build 17 plants over the next five years with sustainable solar energy. The plan fits into Egypt’s push 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 new concessions are designed to encourage private investment and technological development, both areas in which the Arab world’s most populous country has struggled. Investment in new desalination plants would be kick-started with the […]