The Housing Ministry signed a contract with the US-based Fluence Corporation to build three seawater desalination plants at a total cost of USD 7.6 mn, Afrik21 reports. The plants — which are expected to service new urban development projects in the north of Egypt — will be equipped with Fluence’s Nirobox SW - XL water treatment systems, allowing them to process up to 12,000 cbm of water a day. The equipment will be ready to ship by the end of 2018 with construction set to start in 2Q2019. Fluence will also operate the plants through a local partner. Details on construction timeline and funding were not disclosed.