Egypt's Irrigation minister inaugurates second phase of Sarabium Siphon via video conf.

CAIRO, June 8 (MENA) - Minister of Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Aati on Monday inaugurated the second phase of Sarabium Siphon in the Suez Canal axis as part of the state's efforts for the development of Sinai Peninsula and the Irrigation Ministry's plan to add new farmland areas.

Irrigation Ministry's Undersecretary Ragab Abel Azeim, Head of the Irrigation Authority Abdel Latif Khaled and Head of the Projects Sector at the Ministry Shehta Ibrahim attended the inauguration.

Sarabium is aimed at resolving the water scarcity and desertification problems in eastern the Suez Canal. The project will contribute to the reclamation of 200 feddans in the eastern the Suez Canal.

Upon launching the project, Abdel Aati said the second phase will help in carrying the Nile water to eastern the Lakes area and will serve 150,000 people with a value of EGP 181 million.

Around 1.25 million cubic meters of water will be transferred by Mahsama siphon to Temsah Lake eastern the Canal, and to lands in Sinai for irrigation. The Mahsama siphon consists of four reservoirs connected to two tunnels placed 60 meters beneath the Canal’s surface and below the seabed. The construction of the project started in January 2018, he explained.