New Delta Strategic environmental assessment (SEA)

Project description

Egypt’s New Delta Project is a flagship national initiative transforming nearly one million acres of Western Desert land into productive agricultural zones to enhance food security and reduce reliance on imports. Anchored by the El Hamam Plant, the world’s largest agricultural drainage water treatment facility (7.5 million m³/day), the project applies advanced irrigation, mechanized farming, and sustainable water management. Its multi-source water strategy combines treated drainage water, Nile water conveyed through the Eastern Canal, and Western Desert aquifers. Supporting infrastructure includes new power stations, extensive road networks, and major pumping facilities that enable large-scale land reclamation and the development of new communities. By expanding cultivable land, creating employment, and promoting population redistribution from the Nile Valley, the New Delta Project strengthens Egypt’s long-term agricultural resilience and national water security.

EcoBusiness Scope

‒         Prepared a full environmental baseline covering geology, soils, hydrology, hydrogeology, climate conditions, and ecological sensitivities across the Western Desert zone.

‒         Assessed sustainability of project water resources, including treated drainage water, water transfer, and Western Desert aquifer extraction.

‒         Conducted agricultural land capability and soil suitability assessments for large-scale reclamation and mechanized farming.

‒         Evaluated potential environmental impacts of irrigation networks, pumping stations, power infrastructure, and road corridors.

‒         Analyzed risks of salinization, soil degradation, and irrigation return flows affecting groundwater and downstream ecosystems.

‒         Assessed biodiversity impacts on desert habitats, wildlife movement routes, and sensitive inland ecosystems.

‒         Evaluated climate change implications on water availability, crop productivity, and long-term land resilience.

‒         Reviewed engineering concepts for the El Hamam Water Treatment Plant and associated distribution systems for environmental compliance.

‒         Facilitated stakeholder engagement with national authorities and technical institutions to integrate environmental priorities.

‒         Developed strategic mitigation measures, sustainability guidelines, and environmental management and monitoring frameworks.