Sisi opens Egypt’s third largest water project

Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi inaugurated the country’s third largest water project on the Nile river, a barrage in New Assiut city.

The barrage, which is considered to be the third largest water project on the Nile after the High Dam and Naga Hammadi Barrage, was carried out by a consortium of international and national companies at a cost worth 6.5 billion Egyptian pounds ($364.3 million).

The project aims to improve the country’s irrigation system on a space of 1.650 million feddans in Assiut, Minya, Beni Suef, Faiyum, and Giza governorates.

The New Assiut barrage includes a hydroelectric power station that produces 32 MW, at a cost estimated at 100 million pounds per year.

Germany’s Ambassador to Cairo, Julius Georg Luy hailed earlier this month the completion of New Assiut barrage, expressing his country’s pride to be Egypt’s partner in this project.

Germany had funded New Assiut Barrage project, at a total cost of around €300 million, Luy said, adding: “This is a proof that Germany has a long commitment for development in Egypt’s water sector, which is a key source for the country’s future.”