Ambitious strategies and plans are taken by the state to maximize and develop water resources, in order to meet and secure future development needs, which included the implementation of many important projects, such as the project of lining canals, developing the irrigation system, rationalizing consumption, and raising the efficiency of rainwater and torrential utilization. But despite these efforts, the water resources file is still facing some challenges, such as climate change and others, of which the state is working to confront.

 In this convention, Canada Egypt Business Council and the Egyptian Business Council for International Cooperation had the honor to host H.E Dr. Mohamed Abdelaty; Minister of Water Resources & Irrigation discussing the topic ‘Egypt’s Water Future … Opportunities and Challenges’.

  In the opening remarks Eng. Motaz Raslan; on behalf of CEBC & ECIC; welcomed our dear distinguished members, guests and his dear friend H.E. Dr. Mohamed Abdelaty. Eng. Motaz said that water has been and continues to be the most important issue that occupies the top of the interests of all the countries of the world as the basis for human survival and the heart and pillar of sustainable development, but in recent years this file has become a threat and a global challenge that warns of serious consequences in light of the rapid population growth and increasing pressure on water consumption to turn the talk from shortage to water scarcity.

 Then he continued “Here I remembered a famous saying of the late diplomat Youssef Boutros-Ghali that the next conflict would be because of water, not politics, and that water liters would be more expensive than oil.

 This statement certainly confirms that the water problem is not born today and those successive governments, despite their efforts and plans have not succeeded in meeting this challenge and securing water for future generations. But since the first day, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has put the preservation of Egypt’s water resources and earnings, diversifying its resources and making the most of all water resources at the forefront of his interests; which we’ll hear in detail during this seminar”.

  For the part of, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Abdelaty, Minister of Water Resources & Irrigation, reviewed that the developments of the Nile water issue, the current position on the negotiations on the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, and Egypt’s clear desire to complete the negotiations, while emphasizing Egypt’s constants in preserving its water rights, achieving benefit for all in any agreement on the Renaissance Dam, and emphasizing the search for a fair and binding legal agreement for all, that meets the aspirations of all countries for development.

Stressing that the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, and its impact on the waters of the Nile, is one of the major challenges facing Egypt at present, especially in light of the unilateral actions implemented by the Ethiopian side in filling and operating the Renaissance Dam, and the resulting unilateral negative repercussions, will not be accepted by the Egyptian state.

 H.E. Dr. Abdelaty pointed out that Egypt supports development in the Nile Basin countries and African countries, Egypt has established many dams harvesting rainwater, and underground drinking water stations, to provide clean drinking water in remote areas far from water communities with the use of solar energy technology, in a large number of groundswells, allowing for the sustainability of its operation, the implementation of projects to clear the waterways and protect against the dangers of floods, the establishment of many fish farms and river anchors, and the ministry contributes to the preparation of studies necessary for projects to establish multi-purpose dams to provide electricity to provide electricity. And drinking water for citizens in African countries, in addition to what Egypt offers in the field of training and capacity building for technical cadres from the Nile Basin countries.

 He stressed that these challenges require strenuous efforts to meet them both at the community level through citizens’ awareness of the importance of water conservation and conservation from all forms of waste and pollution, or at the government level through the implementation of many major projects that the state is implementing or through legislative development.

 He stressed that the government aims to raise the efficiency of water use, and that this is based on various axes, including the lining of canals and other projects such as modern irrigation, as well as improving the quality of water and the efficiency of its use. H.E. also said that Egypt’s total water needs amount to about 114 billion cubic meters annually. He added that the available quota ranges from 60 to 61 billion cubic meters annually, which include the annual share of the Nile water, which is 55 billion cubic meters, in addition to other sources such as groundwater, indicating that this comes in light of the limited and stable water resources, in light of the population increase.

 The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is currently implementing the national canal rehabilitation project, which aims to improve the process of water management and distribution, and to deliver water to the ends of tired canals, other than the economic, social, urban and environmental returns, at the level of major national projects aimed at rationalizing water use and maximizing the return from the water unit. The ministry has also prepared a new water resources and irrigation bill currently under discussion in the House of Representatives, which aims to improve the development and management of water resources and achieve fair distribution to all uses and beneficiaries, and to protect water resources and the watercourse system from all forms of encroachment.

 He added that Egypt is one of the driest countries in the world and that in the period from 2011 until today, the population has increased by about 25 million people. He pointed out that there is a reuse of wastewater of all kinds to make it suitable for reuse, stressing that improving water is a priority as well as increasing the efficiency of its use. He said that the overall efficiency of water use in Egypt is among the highest in the African continent and the world, according to many studies, noting that this is one of the things that are wrongly promoted.

 Then the session was opened for questions and answers where many questions and suggestions were discussed and many attendees praised the ongoing efforts of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.