ASSIUT, August 12, 2018- Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Mohamed Abdel Ati, who attended President Sisi's inauguration of the New Assiut Barrage, reviewed the ministry's projects accomplished from 2014 to 2018 as well as the planned projects for 2018-2022. He said the water and irrigation sector is facing grave challenges, topped by overpopulation. He said the ministry's 2050 strategy focuses on securing water needs by rationalising water consumption and boosting water resources. Minister Abdel Ati also said that specific strategies have been merged into a national water plan targeting the period from 2017 to 2037. The expected investments of this plan are estimated at LE900 billion, he said. Minister Abdel Ati added that 27 kilometers of the Egyptian coast were renovated at a total cost of LE575 million to protect people's lives and properties worth tens of billions against the threat of coastal erosion. He noted that President Sisi gave directives to establish a walkway in the North Coast, whose initial design is finalised, at LE10 billion. He said that water wells were dug at a total cost of LE1.7 billion. Today, about 75 water wells operating by solar energy were opened at a total cost of LE110 million, the minister added. Abel Ati pointed out that Egypt recycles 33 percent of renewable water, thus it tops African states with regard to water usage.
