A total of 224.589 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 on Friday.

The figure represents 88 percent of a targeted 258 million cubic meters, he added.

About 38 dredgers are operating in the waterway, executive director of dredging works at the project Wagdy Zaky said.