Cairo: The State Information Service (SIS) organized a comprehensive media briefing attended by Dr. Hani Sewilam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, and over 80 correspondents representing around 45 foreign media outlets. The meeting aimed to enhance engagement with the international media regarding Egypt's water security, its management strategies, and cooperation initiatives within the Nile Basin.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the briefing highlighted several critical issues, including Egypt's severe water scarcity compared to Ethiopia's vast water potential. Dr. Sewilam emphasized Egypt's dependence on external water resources, noting that over 98% of its renewable water comes from beyond its borders. With water demand reaching nearly 123 billion cubic meters annually against a supply of 56.8 billion cubic meters, Egypt faces significant challenges in meeting its needs.
Dr. Sewilam discussed Egypt's strategies to address these challenges, such as reusing water, expanding desalination, and implementing smart water management technologies. He underscored that desalination is a supplementary resource and cannot replace the Nile's water given Egypt's substantial agricultural demands.
The Minister elaborated on the second generation of Egypt's Water Management System (Water 2.0), which aims to transition to a more efficient approach by enhancing water treatment, digital monitoring, and infrastructure development. He assured that Egypt's national water security remains a priority, with advanced systems in place to manage and forecast water conditions.
Addressing regional cooperation, Dr. Sewilam reviewed Egypt's efforts to support development in Nile Basin countries, citing projects like well drilling, solar-powered stations, and flood protection initiatives. He highlighted Egypt's financial contributions to development projects and the successful cooperation on Tanzania's Julius Nyerere Dam, which has yielded mutual benefits.
The session also tackled the contentious issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Dr. Sewilam reiterated Egypt's commitment to international law and multilateral cooperation while maintaining that unilateral actions are unacceptable. He expressed concerns over the dam's operation, which could disrupt downstream water flows and impact regional stability.
Dr. Sewilam concluded by reassuring Egyptian citizens of the government's vigilant management of its water resources and commitment to protecting Egypt's water rights under international law. Egypt's stance remains clear: support for cooperative development in the Nile Basin, adherence to international law, and rejection of unilateral actions that threaten its water security.