Chinese drilling technology transforms Egyptian desert into farmland

Thanks to advanced Chinese well-drilling technology, the barren lands of Egypt's Western Desert are gradually being transformed into fertile fields. This is reported by the Global Times, a partner of TV BRICS.

The well drilling project, implemented by the Egyptian branch of a Chinese oil and gas company, has become part of a large-scale programme to expand agricultural land by developing deserts.

Where once there was rocky terrain, wheat, alfalfa, and potatoes are now grown, serving as an example of sustainable development for arid regions and demonstrating the potential of international cooperation in food security and environmental restoration.

The project is being implemented as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) initiative, which in Egypt has expanded beyond infrastructure projects to now include the agricultural sector, technology, and industry.

The company began operations in Egypt in 2016 and has since drilled more than 680 wells from Sinai Peninsula to Aswan. In the Owainat area in the south-west of the country alone, 63 deep wells (about 450 metres) were drilled in less than a year, despite extreme weather and geological conditions.

Experts emphasise that such projects are key to Egypt's sustainable development. "Any increase in water resources has a direct impact on agricultural growth," Ahmed Galal, dean of the Higher Institute for Agricultural Cooperation in Cairo said.