Egypt: Egypt marked the 66th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone for the High Dam, one of the country's largest national projects, which was inaugurated on January 9, 1960, by late President Gamal Abdel Nasser. In a statement to mark the occasion, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam described the High Dam as the greatest engineering project of the 20th century, emphasizing its role in protecting Egypt from droughts and floods for decades.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Sewilam highlighted the High Dam's significance as a 'fortress of safety' for Egyptians and emphasized its role in regulating the flow of the Nile River. This has safeguarded the country from extreme hydrological events, supplied water for agriculture and industry, and generated electricity. The minister monitors the technical readiness of the High Dam and the Aswan Reservoir, noting that rehabilitation and maintenance are key components of Egypt's second-generation water management system, 'Egyptian Water System 2.0'.
The irrigation ministry continues to upgrade monitoring and surveillance systems using the latest global technologies and digital solutions to ensure sustainable and efficient operation under varying hydrological conditions. Ongoing development and modernization work aims to enhance the dam's operational efficiency and preparedness, enabling it to respond effectively to different challenges and fluctuations in Nile flows.
Sewilam stated that the modernization program aligns with directives from the political leadership and has full support from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, underscoring the state's commitment to preserving the High Dam and maximizing its strategic role in supporting Egypt's water security. The minister praised the teams responsible for operating and monitoring the dam around the clock, including continuous tracking of water levels and discharge rates.
He noted that Egypt will soon commemorate the anniversary of the official inauguration of the High Dam by late President Anwar Sadat on January 15, 1971, a date that later became the national day of Aswan governorate. Sewilam paid tribute to those who contributed to what he described as a historic national epic, recognizing their success in building a structure that remains a lasting landmark in the country's history.
The decision to build the High Dam was made in 1953 with the formation of a committee to design the project. The final design was completed in 1954 under the supervision of engineer Moussa Arafa and Dr. Hassan Zaki, with assistance from several international firms. Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal in 1956 to secure funding for the project, signed construction agreements in 1958, and laid the foundation stone in 1960.