Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam highlighted on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Egypt's proactive measures to secure its water supply against unilateral actions, climate change, and population growth. Speaking at Egypt Forum 2026, Sewilam added that the nation has invested EGP 800 billion into major water and agricultural projects, successfully scaling recycled water usage to 23.2 billion cubic meters annually through mega-treatment plants like New Delta.
The Minister emphasized significant infrastructure efforts that pump water against natural slopes and across major waterways to irrigate over 2.2 million acres in the Western Desert. Additionally, land reclamation in Toshka has rapidly expanded green coverage while maintaining Egypt's historical Nile water share of 55.5 billion cubic meters.
Regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Sewilam noted that Egypt exhausted all negotiation avenues from the Statement of Principles to the Washington consensus before halting talks due to Ethiopian non-compliance. Egypt continues to protect its water rights while insulating citizens from potential fallout.
Beyond GERD, Egypt fosters regional cooperation across the 11 Nile Basin nations, investing $120 million in grants, solar-powered drinking wells, flood protection, and meteorological centers. Sewilam called for regional energy integration via solar and wind alternatives rather than relying solely on dams, stressing mutual "win-win" solutions across the Basin.
Egypt sees major expansion in agricultural development projects Egypt sees major expansion in agricultural development projects