Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam discussed on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, with representatives of Coca-Cola International prospects for enhancing cooperation in water and environmental sustainability, including a pioneering project to desalinate agricultural drainage water using renewable energy under the global Replenish 2.0 program, which supports water sustainability initiatives.
During the meeting, the ministry outlined its strategic vision for expanding the reuse of water resources as a key pillar of Egypt's Water Resources Strategy 2050 and the Second-Generation Water System (Water 2.0) approach. The proposed project was presented as an innovative model for converting moderately saline agricultural drainage water into a sustainable source of irrigation water without placing additional pressure on Nile water resources.
The ministry noted that the project crowns years of technical and institutional efforts, including a scoping study conducted in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the AWARe initiative and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), as well as a comprehensive feasibility study prepared in partnership with the Center for Applied Research on the Environment and Sustainability (CARES) at the American University in Cairo (AUC).
The studies confirmed the project's technical, environmental and economic feasibility. Sewilam said the initiative forms part of a broader national program aimed at maximizing the reuse of water resources, improving water quality and enhancing the resilience of the agricultural sector to climate change and water scarcity through scalable and replicable solutions.
He reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to strengthening cooperation with the private sector and development partners to implement projects that improve water management and expand the use of innovative solutions to address water challenges, contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals.
The minister also underscored the importance of adopting advanced technologies and non-conventional approaches in water management, stressing that the ministry encourages partnerships that promote innovation and sustainability while ensuring the technical and economic viability of proposed projects.
He described the potential cooperation as a promising model for public-private partnership in advancing innovative water solutions, supporting food security, creating job opportunities and assisting communities most vulnerable to water stress. At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed to continue technical and institutional consultations to advance the proposed partnership and explore suitable financing and implementation mechanisms in support of their shared objectives in water sustainability and climate action.
Representatives of Coca-Cola International expressed appreciation for the ongoing cooperation with the ministry and reaffirmed the company's interest in supporting initiatives and projects that generate positive environmental and social impact.