Egypt Cancels Qattara Depression Canal Project After Century of Proposals
Egypt has officially terminated the Qattara Depression canal project aimed at generating hydroelectric power, citing economic impracticality. Cheaper alternatives like solar and wind energy have rendered the century-old plan obsolete.
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In May 2026, Egypt's cabinet announced the cancellation of the Qattara Depression canal project, which sought to flood a below-sea-level desert basin for hydroelectric power. This decision followed a feasibility study initiated in 2023, with reviews dating back to 2016.
Multiple challenges, including groundwater contamination, increased soil salinity, and conflicts with existing oil and gas operations, contributed to the project's dismissal. The original concept, proposed in the 1910s, involved utilizing seawater to generate continuous power through evaporation.
However, advancements in solar and wind energy, now seen as more viable, ultimately led to this outcome. The Qattara Depression remains dry more than a century after initial proposals.
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