Water-poor Egypt eyes quadrupling desalination capacity in 5 years

A view of solar panels are seen at the resort area of Marsa Shagra near Marsa Alam on Egypt's southern Red Sea coastline, Egypt, October 18, 2021. Picture taken October 18, 2021. REUTERS/Aidan Lewis

CAIRO (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.