Latest news with #HaniSweilem
Egypt Today
20-04-2025
- General
- Egypt Today
Ministry of Water Resources to produce series of documentaries on history of irrigation in Egypt
Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sweilem meets with Ministry's media team, joined by Egyptian Gazette newspaper's Journalist Amira Sayed- press photo CAIRO – April 2025: Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sweilem directed to produce a series of documentaries highlighting the historical evolution of irrigation in Egypt. The Minister's dierctions were gien after holding a meeting with the Ministry's media team, joined by Egyptian Gazette newspaper's Journalist Amira Sayed, who recently won the Excellence Award in the Graduate Documentary Competition at BEA's international digital media and broadcast contest for her documantary 'Ladies of the Nile.' The short film was produced by the the Kamal Adham Center for Television and Digital Journalism at the American University, in cooperation with the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources. During the meeting, Sweilem emphasized the significance of documenting both the ancient and modern aspects of Egypt's irrigation legacy. He noted that the ancient Egyptian civilization, which flourished along the banks of the Nile River, was a pioneer in developing some of the earliest irrigation technologies known to mankind. Preserving and showcasing this heritage, he said, is essential to honoring Egypt's longstanding expertise in water management. The Minister highlighted that these documentaries would serve as a powerful tool to raise public awareness about the vital role of water in Egyptian society and the enduring connection between the Nile and the Egyptian people. Irrigation-related heritage The Minister siad that that Egypt is home to numerous historical water infrastructure landmarks, such as the Kufra Dam, which dates back to the era of the ancient Egyptians. Remarkably, parts of this ancient structure still stand today, serving as a testament to Egypt's early advancements in engineering and water management. He added that Egypt has several historical water facilities, such as the Old Delta Barrage, established in 1862; the Old Aswan Dam, established in 1902; the Old Assiut Barrage (1902); the Old Zefta Barrage (1902); the Old Esna Barrage (1906); the Old Nag Hammadi Barrage (1930), and the Edfina Barrage (1951). Additionaly, Sweilem said that the Ministry also possesses numerous important collections and documents, such as books, maps, reports, photos, encyclopedias, and rare albums, such as the Description of Egypt , the 1869 Suez Canal Opening Ceremony Album, and the 1928 Atlas of Maps of Egypt , and others. Irrigation Museum The Ministry is currently coordinating with UNESCO to establish an Irrigation Museum aimed at preserving Egypt's irrigation heritage and documenting both ancient and modern efforts in effective water management, the Minister said. The museum will serve as a hub for safeguarding historical irrigation facilities and restoring significant archival materials—including books, maps, reports, and photographs—related to the development of water systems throughout Egyptian history. Thus, the Minister ordered to make an inventory of all the Ministry's historical holdings and facilities.
CairoScene
07-04-2025
- General
- CairoScene
New Report Finds 78,000 Nile River Encroachments Since 2015
The current enforcement effort, known as Wave 25, resulted in the removal of 238 encroachments. Apr 07, 2025 The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has reported a total of 78,000 cases of encroachment on the Nile River since 2015, according to a new update submitted to Minister Hani Sweilem. The report comes as part of the ongoing ';Campaign to Save the Nile', a national initiative aimed at curbing illegal construction and land reclamation along the river and its branches. The current enforcement effort, known as Wave 25, resulted in the removal of 238 encroachments covering a combined area of 46,000 square metres. These removals were carried out across several governorates, including 29 cases in Assiut, 27 in Menoufia, 24 in Daqahlia, and 22 each in Gharbia and Beheira. Additional violations were addressed in Luxor, Sohag, Beni Suef, and other regions, with cleared areas ranging from a few hundred square metres to several thousand. The campaign is being implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Interior and local authorities. It involves continuous monitoring of the river to identify new violations early. Minister Sweilem has directed Nile protection departments to conduct legal and technical assessments of all reported cases before taking further action. Given Egypt's dependence on the Nile for drinking water, agriculture, and transport, the government has treated the issue of encroachment as a national priority. Since the campaign began in 2015, it has operated in waves, removing unauthorised structures and restoring riverbanks across the country in an effort to preserve the river's natural flow and ecological balance.
Egypt Independent
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Egypt requests detailed procedures regarding GERD's safety
Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sweilem confirmed that cracks have been detected in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), especially in the concrete layer, and have been treated. During a phone-in with TV host Amr Adib on the 'al-Hekaya' (The Story) show on Monday evening, Sweilem added: 'We requested detailed procedures for the safety of the dam and have not received them yet, for the safety of 150 million citizens in Egypt and Sudan.' Sweilem said that there is no truth to reports claiming that Ethiopia has offered Egypt to buy surplus quantities of Egypt's share in Nile waters. He added that Egypt was one of the first countries to support the Nile Basin Initiative financially, technically and politically, which contributed to making the initiative a strong institution that is now he cornerstone of cooperation in the Nile River Basin. Sweilem added that Egypt and Sudan were indeed affected by the construction of the GERD, but the large floods that the Blue Nile witnessed compensated for the water shortage resulting from the filling operations. He explained that floods in the past years prevented Egypt from feeling any serious water crises. Sweilem said that Egypt negotiated for 12 years with Ethiopia regarding filling the dam during flood periods to reduce the damage. However, Ethiopia ignored these demands and continued to fill the dam unilaterally and without adhering to the Declaration of Principles agreement. He warned that filling during drought periods could exacerbate the crisis, noting that Ethiopia's random operating of the dam could also cause greater damage to Sudan than to Egypt. Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
Egypt Independent
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Egypt issues new warning to Ethiopia over GERD
Egyptian Irrigation Minister Hani Sweilem said on Saturday that since the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) was built, filled and operated unilaterally this constitutes a violation of international law and is a fundamental breach of the Declaration of Principles agreement signed in 2015. Sweilem's statements came during an extraordinary meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Nile Basin Initiative in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The minister explained that Egypt has always dealt with the Ethiopian dam issue with restraint, and insisted on keeping the dispute within the tripartite framework between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, without expanding it to include all Nile basin countries. The Minister expressed Egypt's objection to including a visit to the GERD in the 'Nile Day' program, which is organized on February 22 of each year to mark the anniversary of the founding of the Nile Basin Initiative. He warned that Ethiopia taking advantage of hosting this regional meeting to include this visit on the agenda will lead to involving the Nile Basin countries in the ongoing dispute over the GERD, negatively impact the unity of the member states and threaten regional cooperation. Ethiopia now faces two options, Sweilem noted – either to adhere to the spirit of unity and spare the basin unnecessary tension, or to proceed with the visit and undermine the purpose of the gathering. He stressed that Egypt, out of its firm commitment to the governing principles of the Nile Basin Initiative, affirms that preserving the principle of consensus is essential to the initiative and will achieve mutual benefit for all member states. It will also benefit regional stability based on dialogue and mutual respect, he added. He explained that Egypt has always been a major supporter of regional cooperation, pointing to its effective role in establishing the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) in 1999 and providing significant financial, technical and political contributions over the first decade of the initiative's life to enhance its role as a vital platform for dialogue and cooperation among the basin countries. Sweilem pointed out that Egypt was forced in 2010 to suspend its participation in the initiative's technical activities due to fundamental changes in the decision-making mechanism. The minister stressed that the lives of over 107 million Egyptians are closely linked to the Nile River, stressing that it is not just a waterway but a lifeline for the basin countries, supporting their economies, ensuring their food security and overall well-being of their people. Sustainable management of this shared resource is not just a necessity, he warned, but an inevitable responsibility to ensure the stability, prosperity and security of the entire region in the long-run.
Daily News Egypt
20-02-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt, Germany discuss strengthening cooperation on water management
Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sweilem, met on Wednesday with Mario Sander, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, to explore ways to enhance bilateral collaboration in water management. Sweilem highlighted the strong partnership between Egypt and Germany, noting that several key projects have been implemented through their cooperation. These include the second and third national drainage programs, the construction of the Assiut and Nag Hammadi Barrages, and irrigation development initiatives in the Delta. Germany has also supported the Regional Training Center for Water Resources and Irrigation, and both sides aim to collaborate on future projects such as the fourth national drainage program, beach protection efforts, and the second phase of the Nile Delta Water Management Project. Discussions focused on preparations for launching the Fourth National Drainage Program, which aims to renew covered drainage across 1.4 million acres. The meeting also addressed a feasibility study for beach protection along 15 kilometers east of the Kitchener Drain outlet in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate. The officials reviewed the progress of the JISA Water System and Irrigation Project, funded by the German Development Bank (KfW), agreeing to expand its scope to include rehabilitating the Ismailia Canal bridges and upgrading water infrastructure in the eastern Khandaq and Marqus Coast canals in the West Beheira Irrigation Department. They also discussed plans to improve water management in the Qota Canal in Fayoum, including modern irrigation techniques, canal rehabilitation, evaluation of pumping stations, and reuse of agricultural drainage water. Additionally, they examined the upcoming second phase of the Nile Delta Water Management Program, which will involve comprehensive water balance studies, infrastructure development, strategic planning for critical water areas, expanded agricultural drainage reuse, and capacity-building initiatives. Both sides agreed to collaborate on technical studies evaluating the transition from flood irrigation to modern irrigation systems in Egypt, considering environmental, economic, and social impacts. Sweilem reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to strengthening its partnership with Germany, particularly in addressing water and climate challenges. He also emphasized the importance of Germany's support for the African Center for Water and Climate Adaptation (PACWA) to provide specialized training for African experts in climate change adaptation and water resource management.
