New Suez Canal
The Egyptian Suez Canal is a water crossing of great importance in the movement of trade in the world. In light of the growth of global trade, the official authority of the Suez Canal decided to establish a new project to support and enhance Egyptian economic activity. One of the most prominent general features of the new canal is that it has a length of 35 km, starting From 60 to 95 km, the canal was expanded through dry drilling by about 37 km, bringing its total length to 72 km, as it passed through the Great Bitter Lake in addition to the Al-Balah region. As a result of these expansion operations, the canal provided ships and ships with the ability to sail in Both directions at the same time, in order to reduce the waiting time for most ships, and to double the ability of the Suez Canal to facilitate commercial transport between countries.
The idea of digging the new Suez Canal
The idea of the new Suez Canal project dates back to the end of the year 1970 AD. The idea was presented at that time and was not implemented despite the economic importance of the project. By 2014 AD, a decision was issued to start work on it, after the maps were reshaped and modified to suit the new project, and they began Work on the project and complete it within one year, with full funding from the Egyptian government.
Digging the new Suez Canal
The new Suez Canal was dug with full funding from the Egyptian people through the offering of interest-bearing bonds on the stock market. US$8.4 billion was raised within just 8 days after the completion of financing and bidding. It is worth noting that the project was completed within one year. The dry excavation work amounted to 258 million cubic meters at an estimated cost of 4 billion pounds. The extensions also extended along the canal to a level of 100 km at an estimated cost of 500 million pounds. The dredging work covered an estimated area of soil at about 250 million cubic meters, and cost An amount of 15 billion pounds.
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The importance of the new Suez Canal
The importance of the new Suez Canal project lies in the positive return it imposes on the Egyptian economy. It has contributed to enhancing confidence and increasing the value of the national economy, by providing investment opportunities for local and foreign companies, which has led to an increase in the canal’s income from foreign currencies and the provision of new job opportunities for citizens. In addition to the project’s role in facilitating the movement of commercial ships and providing the greatest possible safety to protect them.
Dimensions of the new Suez Canal
The construction of the new Suez Canal is followed by digging operations for eight underground tunnels, and thus the new canal is considered to be dug in parallel with the previous canal.[XNUMX] It was excavated starting from the Defersoir area in the south to Al-Balah in the north, with a length of 35 km and a depth of 37 km underground. It was divided into 27 km, which was dug across the Great Bitter Lake, and 10 km, which extended through the Al-Balah branch, thus bringing the total length of the new canal to 72 km. Specifically between kilometer 50 and kilometer 122 of the former Suez Canal.
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The new Suez Canal was opened on August 2015, XNUMX. The opening received great response because it was considered a national achievement and a gift from Egypt to the world.
