Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Araghchi to Grossi: These parties will bear responsibility for the consequences of their actions
Araghchi to Grossi: Iran will respond to any unlawful action by European countries or parties attempting to turn the Agency into a tool for achieving their objectives
Araghchi to Grossi: We urge the Agency to warn against the consequences of any political move against Iran
Araghchi to Grossi: We call on the Agency to highlight Iran’s full cooperation during the upcoming Board of Governors meeting next week
Araghchi to Grossi: We demand that the Agency reflect the facts in a manner that prevents certain parties from exploiting it to advance their political agendas
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi holds a phone call with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi
Trump envoy Witkoff has sent 'detailed and acceptable proposal' to Iran for nuclear deal; it's in their best interest to accept it: White House Press Secretary Leavitt
Hamas official says Witkoff's position toward group was 'unfair' and shows 'complete bias' to 'Israel'
Hamas official says it has considered Witkoff's proposal acceptable for negotiations, says 'Israel's' response was incompatible with what the group agreed on
Hamas official says group has not rejected Wikoff's proposal for Gaza ceasefire

Egypt groundwater non-renewable, very deep: Cairo

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 25 Mar 2023 00:05
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

Egypt underlines the necessity of the Nile while highlighting that the country found it very difficult to utilize its groundwater due to various issues.

  • x
  • Construction work takes place, at the site of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam near Assosa, Ethiopia, June 28, 2013 (AP)
    Construction work takes place, at the site of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam near Assosa, Ethiopia, June 28, 2013 (AP)

Groundwater is non-renewable in Egypt, and it lies very deep below the land surface, Egyptian Irrigation Minister Hani Swailem said on Friday.

"Groundwater in Egypt is non-renewable and located at great depths, so it is either impossible to reach it, or it is expensive to pump it up, or the water is very salty and unusable," he said in a statement.

The minister noted that a lot of work was needed to improve Cairo's assessment and protection of water resources from underground reservoir-dependent ecosystems.

The Nile's waters supply over 90% of Egypt's needs for freshwater. Cairo is concerned that the Renaissance dam, which is being constructed in Ethiopia, may lead to water shortages in the future, damaging Egypt's agricultural economy.

This comes after it was reported Thursday that the construction of its Renaissance dam was 90% complete.

On the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the start of the dam's construction, the Office of National Coordination for the Construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam held a briefing to discuss recent developments in the dam's construction.

During the briefing, officials hailed Ethiopians' contributions to the project in terms of funding, expertise, and labor,  Ethiopian news agency Fana reported. They also thanked diplomats who defended the project from international criticism. 

The $4.2 billion project was launched in 2012 and is expected to be Africa's largest hydroelectric scheme in the continent's history.

It has been the center of intense regional disputes with neighboring countries due to experts warning that the project will inevitably result in water shortages in both Egypt and Sudan.

Related News

Ethiopia's Renaissance dam nearly completed: Officials

Ethiopia disturbed by Arab League discussing Renaissance Dam issue

Because of their reliance on Nile waters, Cairo and Khartoum see the project as a threat. The three countries have held several consultations but have never reached a mutual understanding. 

In the summer of 2020, tensions reached a boiling point when Ethiopia began to fill the dam without having agreed to do so with Egypt and Sudan. 

Ethiopia has already started generating electricity from the GERD in February 2022. The two operational turbines, out of a total of 13, can currently generate 750 megawatts of electricity.

The structure is 145 meters (475 feet) high and 1.8 kilometers long, straddling a Nile tributary in the Benishangul-Gumuz region of northwestern Ethiopia, near the Sudanese border.

Earlier this month, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry accused Ethiopia of "continuing to fill and operate the Renaissance Dam without a binding agreement."

Addis Ababa underlined that it was committed to continuing to fill and operate the dam in accordance with the Declaration of Principles agreement reached in March 2015 and signed by Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan with full respect for the principle of the fair and reasonable use of transboundary waters.

Despite African Union-sponsored talks, Ethiopia and its downstream neighbors Egypt and Sudan have yet to reach an agreement on the GERD's operations.

Because of their reliance on Nile waters, Cairo and Khartoum see it as a threat. However, Ethiopia sees it as critical to the electrification and development of Africa's second most populous country.

It was one of Africa's fastest-growing economies until November 2020, when war broke out in northern Ethiopia between federal government forces and Tigray People's Liberation Front.

Egypt, an arid country that relies on the Nile for about 97 percent of its irrigation and drinking water, protested to the UN Security Council last month that the dam's third filling was underway.

  • Renaissance Dam Crisis
  • GERD
  • Renaissance Dam
  • Egypt
  • Addis Ababa
  • Ethiopia
  • African Union
  • Sudan
  • Cairo

Most Read

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech
US & Canada

MIT bans class president over pro-Palestine speech

Arab ministers condemn Israel 'ban' on planned West Bank visit
Politics

Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit

Major General Hu Gangfeng, Vice President, National Defense University, People's Liberation Army, China, leaves after a panel discussion during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

China blasts Hegseth, calls US top 'troublemaker' in Asia-Pacific

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: Reports
Technology

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: NBC News

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS