Latest news with #MinistryofIrrigation
Egypt Independent
08-05-2025
- Science
- Egypt Independent
Nile flooding sparks concern, with GERD coordination under scrutiny
Professor of Geology and Water Resources at Cairo University, Abbas Sharaqi, noted that the flooding of some agricultural land on the banks of the Nile River in Egypt is a dire sign of Ethiopia's lack of coordination with Egypt regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). In a Facebook post, Sharaqi explained that the lands that flooded in Monufia Governorate and elsewhere during April are 'Nile Riverbank land' – meaning parts of the riverbanks or islands that are not usually reached by the Nile's normal water levels. The Ministry of Irrigation allows farmers to lease these lands, knowing that the Nile's water level could rise at any time. The current rise in the Nile River's water level is occurring at an unusual and surprising time, the professor noted, especially since Lake Nasser is expected to be at its lowest levels now, near the end of the water year, in preparation for receiving rainfall from the new season. 'The lack of coordination between Egypt and Sudan with Ethiopia regarding the Renaissance Dam, due to the absence of an agreement, causes a state of ambiguity and confusion in planning water and agricultural policies, particularly in the smaller Sudanese dams downstream from the High Dam, due to the uncertainty surrounding the filling and discharge schedule of the Renaissance Dam,' he said. He continued, 'It is customary for the Nile's water level to rise in some years with high rainfall, during which the High Dam's reservoir fills up. If the flooding continues, the Toshka Spillway is opened, and if the inflow increases further, other gates of the High Dam are opened, leading to a rise in the Nile's level and the flooding of some riverbank lands. This usually happens once every several years in September or October.' Concerning floods He pointed out that the Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation notified the governorates along the Nile River last October of the possibility of some riverbank lands being inundated, which is 'expected' for this time. However, he said the current water conditions in April, both at the GERD and the High Dam, do not warrant the increased flow from Lake Nasser as seen recently. 'Lake Nasser's level is at its lowest during this time of year, which is the last quarter of the water year ending in July, after which the reception of the new year's water begins. Furthermore, the Renaissance Dam's turbines are not operational, and the discharge from it is currently at its lowest, around 12 million cubic meters per day. We are also at the end of the winter agricultural season, during which farmers begin harvesting crops, primarily wheat, and the summer season, with its water-intensive rice cultivation, has not yet begun.' 'The temperature has not yet risen significantly, as we are in spring with an average daytime temperature of 20-30 degrees Celsius. Hydrological changes in the Nile River require hundreds, even thousands of years, as do climate changes. However, fluctuations in the Nile's flow have occurred for thousands of years, including the seven years of plenty and the seven years of famine, and the drought years of 1981-1987,' he explained. The Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation had confirmed in a previous statement that the inundation of these lands with water is a recognized occurrence over the past decades, when specific discharges are released at different times throughout the year, within an integrated water management system aimed at ensuring water and economic security and maintaining the safety and integrity of Egypt's water infrastructure. The ministry clarified that the reason for the change in the timing of high discharge releases, which resulted in the rise in water levels and the flooding of these lands, is due to several variables, the most important of which are the altered hydrology of the river (the timing and volume of flows arriving from the Upper Nile) and the uncertainty surrounding the timing and quantities of water reaching Lake Nasser. This comes in addition to regional and local climate change and its impact on rising temperatures, consequently increasing water demand and the early start of the agricultural season.
Al-Ahram Weekly
28-03-2025
- Science
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Raising water awareness
On the occasion of World Water Day, the Ministry of Irrigation signed cooperation protocols with the Ministry of Endowments and that of education. The signing took place during a celebration held by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation in cooperation with a European Union delegation in Egypt to mark World Water Day on 22 March. This year's celebration was held under the theme 'Glacier Preservation'. Egypt faces significant threats from rising sea levels and altered water availability caused by the melting of glaciers, impacting its coastal regions and agricultural productivity. 'We have a robust EU-Egypt partnership in water management, particularly through initiatives such as the Team Europe Initiative for Integrated Water and Food Security,' Angelina Eichhorst, head of the EU delegation, said during the event, adding that Egypt and the EU are working hard together on promoting innovative solutions that safeguard water resources for future generations. The protocol with the Ministry of Endowments aims to raise awareness of the importance of water conservation and rationalisation, Osama Raslan, the spokesperson for the ministry, told Al-Ahram Weekly. The protocol also promotes cooperation in preparing and issuing awareness materials, providing relevant scientific data for presentation in religious awareness discourse, and involving the imams and preachers of the ministry in awareness activities for different age groups, Raslan said. Humanity has entered an era of water scarcity, Minister of Endowments Osama Al-Azhari said, addressing participants at the event. Glaciers lost more than 600 gigatons of water in 2023, the largest loss in 50 years, Al-Azhari pointed out. Seventy per cent of fresh water on Earth is in the form of snow or ice. He said humans have a duty to cooperate to halt global warming, properly managing water resources and not monopolising them. He also encouraged scientific research efforts to reduce global temperatures and rationalise human activities with a high carbon footprint, exploring new, affordable technologies for desalination, cloud seeding, and other rain-making technologies, all while making better use of groundwater resources. The Ministry of Endowments already has a programme in place called 'We protect and preserve our Nile'. It provides scientific material for imams to use in educating citizens, holding training courses for imams in major mosques, and incorporating water and climate issues into the Friday sermons and programmes and activities held by the Ministry of Endowments, Raslan said. The protocol with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education aims to integrate the concepts of water awareness and natural resource conservation into school curricula, thus enhancing the awareness of future generations of the importance of water as a fundamental element of life and sustainable development, Minister of Education Mohamed Abdel-Latif said. Abdel-Latif said the ministry had already begun integrating climate awareness, water conservation, and sustainability principles into science, geography and civics curricula to ensure that the next generation understands the importance and urgent impact of water issues. * A version of this article appears in print in the 27 March, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
29-01-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt, Kenya elevate bilateral ties to Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership - Foreign Affairs
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Kenyan President William Ruto signed a joint declaration on Wednesday to elevate the bilateral relationship between Egypt and Kenya to a strategic and comprehensive partnership. This took place during Ruto's current visit to Cairo, where he held bilateral talks with President El-Sisi, followed by a joint press conference. According to the Egyptian presidency, Cairo and Nairobi also signed 12 agreements covering areas such as political consultations, diplomatic training, investment promotion, port cooperation, youth initiatives, space, communications and IT, higher education, gender equality and women's empowerment, as well as housing and urban development. "Egypt is one of our key strategic partners," said the Kenyan president at the press conference. Cairo and Nairobi share a common vision for advancing sustainable development in the continent, he added. Kenya and Egypt have signed the Joint Declaration for a Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership. By appending my and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's signatures, we have elevated our relationship and strengthened our ties to boost our engagements in various fields. As a result,… — William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) January 29, 2025 Economic relations Trade exchange between Egypt and Kenya reached $567 million in 2024, compared to $638 million in 2023, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) on Wednesday. Egypt has long been committed to supporting sustainable development across African countries, including Kenya. This support focuses on training and capacity building, particularly in areas like water management, early warning systems, flood forecasting, and modern irrigation techniques, with the aim of strengthening technical skills. According to Egypt's Ministry of Irrigation, the technical collaboration between Egypt and Kenya began in 1993, with Egypt providing assistance in groundwater management through a memorandum of understanding, which included drilling 180 wells. In 2016, the two countries signed another memorandum of understanding to implement a project focused on water resource development and management. The project includes activities such as optimizing water resource use, capacity building in areas like well drilling, constructing rainwater harvesting dams, training in water resource management, and introducing modern irrigation techniques in agriculture. Combat terrorism During his speech in Cairo, the Kenyan president emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive and well-defined strategy to combat terrorism in Africa and strengthen peace and stability across the continent, commending Egypt's crucial role in this effort. Conflicts in Africa have led to loss of lives, displacement of people and destruction of property and livelihoods. On this account, it is urgent that we work together to bring an end to these clashes, silence the guns and bring back peace and stability — especially in Sudan,… — William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) January 29, 2025 'Thanked President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for his central role in peace efforts in Somalia, Sudan, and the Middle East,' Ruto stated on X following the press conference. Short link:
