In a Sunday statement, Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation shared that it has successfully implemented investments totaling EGP 7.401 billion in 2023 towards meeting the vital water needs for development operations and improving the efficiency of the irrigation and drainage system.

Minister Hany Souleim emphasized that these investments have not only addressed challenges within the water sector but also ensured the availability of water resources for all sectors reliant on water in Egypt.

Investments amounting to EGP 400 million were allocated for works at the High Dam and Aswan Reservoir, while an additional EGP 100 million was injected into projects for the rehabilitation of water facilities during the year.

The construction of the New Dairut Bridges project on the Ibrahimia Canal continued, aiming to improve irrigation operations on 1.6 million feddans in five provinces. An advanced system for controlling the actions of the canals fed by the bridges in the five provinces was also provided.

Souleim shared details on the rehabilitation and efficiency improvements on the Huwis Bridge in the canal of Tanta's navigation mouth, updating the operating systems of the Damietta Dam, the rehabilitation and efficiency enhancement of the Belqas Bridge, the rehabilitation of the Salheya Reservation Bridge, and the reinforcement of the Ibrahimia Canal sector in front of and behind the mouth in Assiut. He added that these were completed with investments of EGP 38.5 million throughout the 2023 period.

During 2023, the ministry developed a comprehensive geographic database, encompassing 47,000 water facilities on canals and drains, facilitating the evaluation of facility conditions, and aiding in prioritizing maintenance or replacement decisions. A dedicated unit monitors the design and implementation stages in coordination with relevant entities, according to the ministry’s statement.

Efforts are underway to replace, renew, or establish new irrigation and drainage stations - managed by the Mechanical and Electrical Department - totaling investments of EGP 970 million in 2023. The focus is on serving agricultural sectors and land reclamation while meeting diverse water needs.

Several pumping station construction projects, covering areas like South Husseiniya and Drain 7, were completed during the year. In terms of canal maintenance, approximately 33,000 kilometers were cleaned, and restoration efforts were extended to canals with lengths up to 945 kilometers. The ministry remains dedicated to canal rehabilitation, with large-scale completion scheduled for 2024.

Investments of EGP 2.6 billion in 2023 continue the implementation of facilities protecting against flood hazards, ensuring citizen and establishment safety, the minister added. The ministry is actively monitoring groundwater extraction, rehabilitating coastal oasis wells, and completing studies on groundwater capacities in Egypt.