EMEA News
Widened Suez Canal To Open in August
Mohab Mameesh, the chairman and managing director of the Suez Canal Authority, says the newly widened waterway is expected to open on August 6,2015, Arab media reports.
Digging and dredging is expected to conclude by July 15, 2015, and Egyptian President El Sisi is expected to order the start of navigation by the August date, said Mameesh.
“There are not only digging or dredging works, but also we are preparing the maritime path to be valid and secure for global navigation," he said.
"We will not allow any ship to pass unless it has navigational security.”
The project has reportedly taken 10 months and cost $8 billion, and is expected to reduce transit time for ships to 11 hours from 22 hours.
There are also reportedly plans to build a international industrial and logistics hub near the canal, which aims to make up a third of the country's economy in the future.
In April it was thought that the canal would be completed ahead of schedule in July.
