President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi inaugurated Wednesday the first stage of a project to reclaim 1.5 million acres in the Farafra depression, New Valley governorate.
The first phase covers the reclamation of 10,000 acres in al-Baraka plain. Three model villages that will have solar run power plants; recycling plants for 100 percent of the villages' waste' drinking water plants and commercial, industrial and logistical services areas will be established as part of the first phase.
Youth housing units built on an area of 165 square meters and a pilot farm affiliated to the the Agriculture Ministry and dedicated to educating young people on modern farming methods will also be part of the first phase.
Prime Minister Sheief Ismail, the presidential adviser for national projects, former Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb, Defense Minister Sedqi Sobhi, Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar, Irrigation Minister Hossam Moghazi, Agriculture Minister Essam Fayed and other officials attended the inauguration ceremony.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
