Egypt joins Geneva negotiations on Global Plastics Treaty, calls for urgent agreement    Egypt delivers over 30 million health services through public hospitals in H1 2025    Madinet Masr in talks for three land plots in Riyadh as part of Saudi expansion    Egypt's PM tells Palestinian PM that Rafah crossing is working 24/7 for aid    Egypt, Japan discuss economic ties, preparations for TICAD conference    Real Estate Developers urge flexible land pricing, streamlined licensing, and dollar-based transactions    Egypt's Sisi pledges full state support for telecoms, tech investment    EGP inches down vs. USD at Sunday's trading close    EGX launches 1st phone app    Escalation in Gaza, West Bank as Israeli strikes continue amid mounting international criticism    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt, UNDP discuss outcomes of joint projects, future environmental cooperation    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    After Putin summit, Trump says peace deal is best way to end Ukraine war    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Jordan condemns Israeli PM remarks on 'Greater Israel'    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt's govt. issues licensing controls for used cooking oil activities    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Editorial: Developing Suez
Published in The Egyptian Gazette on 05 - 02 - 2012

CAIRO - Since its nationalisation in 1956, some world powers have been looking for alternative navigation lines, so their ships don't have to cross the Suez Canal.
First, there was the call for resorting to the old Cape of Good Hope line, with Russia contemplating extending a canal in the far north to help.
Israel got involved too, suggesting digging a canal from the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean.
This proved infeasible, so it's now considering extending the railway line between Port Eilat on the Red Sea and the ports of Ashdod and Haifa on the Mediterranean Sea.
Could this project, recently revealed by Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu, really pose a threat to navigation of the Suez Canal?
The answer is definitely no, because transporting goods by railway is three to four times more expensive than doing so by maritime routes.
Besides, there wouldn't be enough trains to handle the volume of goods that cross the Suez Canal every day.
A single train can only carry up to 75 containers; a ship can transport up to 10,000 containers. It would take Israel more than 100 trains per day to transport the same amount of goods as just one ship.
Even if it is built, such a railway won't have a negative effect on Suez revenues. But this doesn't mean we should rest on our laurels, as other projects might come along to weaken the strategic position of the Canal.
The Suez Canal ought to be developed. One suggestion is to turn the eastern bank of the Canal into a service and industrial zone for passing ships, along with creating a shipyard for building and maintaining ships, as well as many other intermediate industries, in order to maximise the revenues of the Canal.
Whether the efforts to undermine the Suez Canal succeed or not, Egypt should consider upgrading its old navigation line for the benefit of the country's economy.


Clic here to read the story from its source.