The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the PPP unit of the Ministry of Finance of Egypt are trying to push the development of PPP projects in the country.

Both parties are working to develop a wide range of projects. The bank will support the development of a strategy study to develop the use of the Nile for cargo shipment. The Bank will also finance the appointment of advisors for three desalination PPP projects: Safaga Sea water desalination PPP project, which is expected to be launched next month, El-Alamein water desalination PPP project and El-Tor Sea water desalination PPP project.

Additionally the EBRD is considering providing a number of sovereign loans to the government and  loans to private sector concessionaires under the  Cairo Integrated Transport Project - Inclusion Component. The following two PPP projects are included:

• Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) PPP, constructing segregated bus lanes within the existing road right of way.
• Nile Ferry PPP, for the modernization and expansion of the existing ferry service in Cairo.

The other projects included in the Cairo Integrated Transport Project - Inclusion Component are: Cairo Metro Line ll, Cairo Metro Lines V and VI, Cairo Bus Sector Reform Project, and Heliopolis Tram Modernization.

Last month the EBRS announced that it had plans to provide financing of up to US$200 million for the construction of a combined-cycle gas-fired power plant in Damanhour, Beheira, and US$100 million to finance the Cairo Metro project.