A total of 222.662 million cubic meters of water-saturated sand have so far been lifted at the New Suez Canal project, head of the Suez Canal Authority Mohab Mamish said Tuesday.

The figure represents 86.30 percent of the target of 258 million cubic meters, he added.

About 38 dredgers were deployed in the water way, executive director of dredging works at the project Wagdy Zaky said.