News

In implementation of the directives of Engineer Karim Badawy, the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, and his emphasis on the importance of community participation for its developmental impact, the Misr Fertilizers Production Company (MOPCO) has developed and rehabilitated the Damietta Bridge due to its historical significance. It also serves as an educational and cultural center for the people of Damietta, as this bridge is the oldest of its kind in the world.

The history of this bridge parallels that of the Eiffel Tower in France. Its construction began when it was designed to accommodate trains weighing up to 72 tons crossing the Nile at Imbaba in Giza, connecting the northern and southern regions over a length of 490 meters. In 1930, when there were plans to replace it with another bridge, the then-Minister of Works, Osman Pasha Moharam, rejected the idea of dismantling and selling it as scrap, instead deciding to disassemble and relocate it to Damietta via Nile barges. The bridge was transported to Damietta at an estimated cost of 40,000 Egyptian pounds and was positioned to connect Damietta with the Sananiya area.

In 2006, after the construction of a vehicle bridge, the Damietta governorate issued a decision to recognize the bridge as a historical landmark and decided to utilize it in an urban development project along the Nile Corniche in Damietta. It was successfully relocated by the Arab Contractors Company in collaboration with professors from the Faculty of Engineering, without cutting its metal structure. After being moved, the bridge transformed from iron on the verge of being sold as scrap into the largest and most important cultural center in Damietta. However, it suffered from neglect following the events of January 25, becoming a victim of looting and theft, until it resembled a piece of scrap metal. Hence, intervention was necessary to restore the bridge to its former historical, cultural, and archaeological status, which MOPCO undertook.

Engineer Ahmed Mahmoud, the head of MOPCO, explained that alongside the bridge's development, the area facing the bridge has also been rehabilitated to include a theater, conference hall, exhibition space for visual arts, and areas for cafes and restaurants offering various activities.

He emphasized MOPCO's commitment to community participation, viewing it as a fundamental pillar for achieving developmental goals within communities. The success of developmental plans is measured by the extent of local community involvement in decision-making, as all plans and projects target individuals across all segments of society.

Community participation is considered one of the tools through which society can advance and improve the social, economic, and environmental quality of life for citizens.