Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla and the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sweilem held a meeting to discuss cooperation between the two ministries regarding licensing the provision of water needed for two petroleum projects that are being implemented to increase fuel production capacities and maximizing the added value.

These two projects are the new diesel production complex in Assiut affiliated with the Assiut National Oil Processing Company (ANOPC), and the methanol production plant in Damietta, one of the petrochemical production projects.

During the meeting, El Molla affirmed that the petroleum sector attaches special importance to the preservation of water resources based on its comprehensive vision, in which the preservation of various natural resources is an essential pillar.

He pointed out that the industrial drainage technology without waste, known as Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD), is being carried out across the sector’s projects, to preserve the environment, recycle water and use it in a closed-circuit system in projects, which is reflected in reducing water use.

The minister added that the new projects that are being coordinated with the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation are the new complex project for the production of diesel in Assiut, which is one of the national projects that serve our people in Upper Egypt. It is a positive example of maximizing the local component in projects and helping in reducing import burdens. He indicated that the methanol production plant project in Damietta is currently being continued as one of the projects that work to maximize the added value of our natural resources and provides products with a distinctive economic return.

El Molla also confirmed that the ministry is constantly working to provide all necessary studies and data to the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, regarding water wells and sources, which are monitored during the seismic survey carried out by the petroleum sector, stressing on working to expand the scope of cooperation in this regard.

For his part, Sweilem affirmed that the projects of the Ministry of Petroleum are among the national projects and that the uses of water in these projects give great economic value to the state and the economy, explaining that the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is working diligently to efficiently manage water resources and non-renewable groundwater.

He pointed out that petroleum projects are always implemented according to environmental and economic studies depending upon what is monitored during the issuance of the necessary licenses for them regarding the projects on the coasts.

During the meeting, the two ministers instructed the work teams from the two ministries to accelerate finalizing the joint protocol regarding licensing the uses of water resources for the two projects of the solar production complex in Assiut and the methanol production in Damietta, to be signed as soon as possible.