BOUCHIHA: WE PLAN TO MAKE EGYPT A GLOBAL MODEL OF SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH OUR MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF CAIRO METRO LINE 3 AND THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT (LRT)

THE COMPANY’S STRONG EXPERTISE IN ASSET MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE IS A KEY ASPECT OF ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILIT

Wadii Bouchiha, CEO of RATP Dev Mobility Cairo (RDCM), participated in the panel discussion on sustainability at the International Exhibition for Transportation Technology (TransMEA 2021), held from 7-10 November 2021, at Egypt International Exhibition Center.

During his participation, Bouchiha showcased the plans of RATP Dev towards implementing sustainability in transportation through its management of the third line of the metro, known as Green Line 3 and Light Rail Transit (LRT) project focusing on three main pillars: “environmental sustainability, economic sustainability, and social sustainability”.

In terms of environmental sustainability, the group company seeks to reduce 20% of energy consumption for every bus trip, in addition to reducing greenhouse gases by 50% by 2025. This model was implemented in Paris by converting 5,000 public transportation buses into environmentally friendly electric vehicles that use clean energy, according to the plan previously developed from 2018 to 2025. Despite the fact that the cost of clean energy buses is twice the cost of regular buses, the company believes that this investment has a positive return on investment in terms of environmental preservation, sustainable energy savings and the cost of consumption on the long run.

Bouchiha discussed the second pillar of economic sustainability, saying: “We are constantly working on optimizing costs, especially through the extensive use of new technology within our departments of transportation lines, applying predictive maintenance instead of scheduled maintenance, and increasing revenues through developing the new services provided to the public”. He explained that the group focuses on the long-term sustainability of assets and infrastructure through the maintenance and management of projects in order to reduce the cost, adding “Our goal in Egypt is to focus on providing a sustainable maintenance system which is already being implemented in Green Line 3. It contributes to increasing the life span of the assets of the line while ensuring a safe and smooth trip for passengers. By doing so, we sustain the assets for a longer period of time, for example: prolong the lifespan of trains suitable for operation up to 30 or 40 years instead of 20 years.”

Referring to the third pillar about the company’s social sustainability plan, Bouchiha said “We are proud of our role in Egypt, and it is important for us to be an effective and responsible member in a city like Cairo.” He pointed out that the company is working to transfer the group’s expertise to the Egyptian cadres working on the Green Line 3 and the Light Rail Transit (LTR) by providing them with training programs and various tests to upgrade their skills and prepare them to follow our sustainability measures, adding: “98% of our staff in RATP Dev Mobility Cairo (RDCM) are Egyptians”.

Bouchiha explained, “We believe in Egypt, and in the skills of the local labor force. We are proud of what we have achieved so far in Green Line 3 and soon the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and we seek to have the Egyptian model replicated in other capitals across the world, including Paris, by 2025”.

This is the second year in a row for RATP Dev Mobility Cairo (RDCM) to participate at the International Exhibition for Transportation Technology (TransMEA 2021), which was held from the 7th of November until the 10th of November, 2021, at Egypt International Exhibition Center.

It is worth mentioning that RATP Dev Mobility Cairo (RDMC) is the local subsidiary of RATP Dev, the

leading French company that specialized in the operation and maintenance of transportation systems

worldwide. RDMC launched its operations in Egypt in 2020 after being awarded the operation and

maintenance contract of Cairo Metro Line 3, under the theme of ‘Green Line’, and the New

Administrative Capital City Light Rail Transit (LRT) for the coming 15 and 20 years respectively. In line with RATP Dev’s international standards, the company will provide the population of Cairo with state-of-the-art metro services that are distinguished in significant cities around the world in terms of higher punctuality, customer service practices, and strong asset maintenance capabilities.