DUBAI (Reuters), – The Suez Canal Authority chairman said that a project to extend parts of the Suez Canal will be complete in July 2023 after two years’ work.

SCA announces accelerated plans for a second canal extension and an expansion of an existing channel. This was after Ever Given’s container ship capsized and blocked the canal’s waterway for six consecutive days.

The project is expected to be complete in 24 months. “We started in July 2021, and God will grant us a completion date in July 2023,” said Chairman Osama Rabi on the sidelines at an event held in Dubai.

The canal is used by ships in convoys. Rabie explained that an extension to the second lane would enable six additional vessels to pass through, but he did not give any further details.

According to plans previously revealed, the Canal’s southernmost 30km will be widen 40m eastward, and the depth to 72ft from the 66ft.

Rabie stated that this will increase ship navigation by 28% on the difficult section of the canal.

According to him, the Suez Canal Authority (and its subsidiaries) were responsible for developing the entire project.

When asked about Iranian fuel and oil shipments through the Suez Canal, in spite of U.S. oil sanctions, he replied: “There is no discrimination when it come to flags on ships. Iranian oil passes through the canal.”

Hezbollah, the Lebanese arm group that supports the armed struggle for independence, imported Iranian fuel in 2012 as a way to address shortages. For sanctions avoidance, the ships went through Syria.