In December 2015, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that Egypt had pledged money to enlarge the Hurghada seawater desalination plant. The pledge came from the cabinet's economic committee chaired by Prime Minister Sherif Ismail. A total of up to EGP 265 million (about US$33.8 million) was available, split into two payments: a first EGP 100 million, about US$12.8 million, in the current year and the remaining EGP 165 million, or US$21 million, to finish the works. The report gave no capacity figure.
The report showed Egypt paying for the enlargement of existing desalination capacity straight from state funds and in instalments. The decision was taken at cabinet level rather than by a utility.