EXCLUSIVE: Eng. Hassan Allam, Group Chief Executive Officer for Hassan Allam Holding, gives his insight on the government’s “challenging” infrastructure programme.
The depletion of natural water sources along with reducing ground-water level has pressurised countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to diversify their W, while the rise in population is leading to a constant surge in demand for fresh water.
Egypt comprises one of the most populated areas in the MENA region with 100 million plus putting water security at the forefront for infrastructure development.
The North African country has recently launched an infrastructure development programme whereby construction stakeholders are building desalination plants to overcome water scarcity, reduce pollution and to help preserve the environment, while also allowing to better utilise the Nile water.
Leading the way for infrastructure development in Egypt is Hassan Allam Holding, who recently sat down with Construction Week to discuss why they are the “leaders” in this particular sector.
“Hassan Allam’s experience in water treatment, waste treatment and desalination is second-to-none,” Eng. Hassan Allam told Construction Week.
“We have a vast experience in this particular sector and therefore when the government has challenging large scale programmes that fall within the domain of our area of expertise, we are one of the leaders who participate in these programmes because we are entrusted with effective and efficient pricing, timely delivery and very high quality standards.”
One of its key water projects driving Egypt’s infrastructure programme is the El-Hammam agricultural wastewater treatment plant – the largest of its kind in the world.
The El-Hammam wastewater treatment plant was awarded to a consortium of four companies in March 2021, with Hassan Allam being one them.
Eng. Allam told Construction Week that he expects the plant to be up and running by 2022.
“It [El-Hammam] is the largest agricultural wastewater treatment plant in the world and it is expected to collect agricultural waste water from Alexandria and neighbouring cities into one treatment plant. It will then be used to provide water for agricultural reclamation in the western side of Egypt; helping the agri business grow; helping exports grow and serving the local market,” explains Eng. Allam.
“The first 500,000 acres are planned to be harvested or developed from this plant with more to come. I think we are looking at significant agricultural investment from the government based on this plant.”
He adds that Hassan Allam was awarded the project as they previously worked on the Al Mahsama agricultural waste water treatment plant, which was delivered last year, alongside Metito and was the largest in the world at the time.
“Based on this success, the government decided to move forward with El-Hammam, which is six times the size of Al Mahsama and we brought on board other partners to build this project in record time. We hope to see it up and running in 2022,” Eng. Allam concludes.