Minister of Water Resources Highlights Toshka Spillway Expansion to Enhance High Dam System

Dr. Hani Sweilem.

The Permanent Committee for Organizing the Nile River’s Flow held a meeting chaired by Dr. Hani Sweilem, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, with the participation of several ministry officials and representatives from the National Water Research Center.

This meeting was part of the regular follow-up on the Nile River’s flow status and hydrological conditions, assessing the water inflow to Lake Nasser, monitoring the operations of the High Dam, and reviewing water levels and discharges. The committee also discussed management strategies for the current water system.

During the meeting, global climate phenomena were reviewed, including El Niño, which is associated with periodic increases in sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. This could have implications for temperature patterns, rainfall, droughts, or flooding.

The ministry’s agencies are continuously analyzing hydrological and climate indicators related to these phenomena using advanced mathematical models, satellite imagery, and recent scientific studies. This supports decision-making processes and enhances planning capabilities for efficient water resource management, especially with summer approaching when demand for drinking water, agriculture, and industry typically rises.

The current demand for water was also assessed alongside efforts by ministry agencies to manage water resources flexibly. This includes operational balancing at major weirs and pumping stations to ensure proper discharge levels while meeting various sectoral needs.

The meeting further discussed preparations for peak water demand periods through ongoing monitoring of levels and discharges across irrigation canals and drainage systems. Coordination among irrigation, drainage, mechanical, and electrical departments is crucial to ensure efficient system operation while maintaining readiness of water facilities and emergency units.

Dr. Sweilem emphasized that the ministry will continue dynamic management of water situations based on real-time monitoring in Upper Egypt. The use of cutting-edge hydrological forecasting models and satellite imagery analysis will improve resource management efficiency while continuously tracking discharges and levels according to overall water usage needs.

The minister also reviewed progress on the Toshka Spillway Expansion Project as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency and readiness of major water facilities. This expansion aims to improve management capabilities concerning discharges and levels at Lake Nasser effectively and flexibly, thereby supporting High Dam operations under various hydrological scenarios.

He directed ministry agencies to maintain continuous monitoring across irrigation and drainage departments nationwide while ensuring necessary maintenance of canals based on actual needs. Readiness checks for sectors along waterways including pumping stations must be conducted to ensure immediate response capabilities to any developments while maintaining appropriate levels at intake points for drinking water supply and electricity generation.