The grants will finance the project's technical, environmental, and social studies ahead of implementation.
The first grant, worth €500,000, is provided through the African Water Facility to prepare technical studies for the construction of five seawater desalination plants powered by renewable energy.
The plants are expected to be implemented through public-private partnerships (PPPs) and will add 525,000 cubic metres of water per day across four governorates, helping to boost Egypt's freshwater supply.
The second grant, valued at €280,000, from the Technical Assistance Fund for Middle-Income Countries will support environmental and social impact assessments for the project and capacity-building programmes for workers in Egypt's water sector.
According to the cabinet, the project aims to increase the availability of desalinated water for multiple uses and strengthen Egypt's long-term water security.
The renewable-powered desalination project is one of the flagship initiatives under Egypt's NWFE programme, launched in 2022 to mobilize international financing for priority projects in the water, food, and energy sectors and for supporting the country's climate commitments.
As one of the world's most water-scarce countries, Egypt has expanded investment in seawater desalination, wastewater treatment, and water reuse to meet growing demand. The country is also working on expanding the use of renewable energy in the water sector.
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