Egypt’s Sisi directs government to accelerate implementation of canal lining project

CAIRO – 12 January 2021: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has directed the government to accelerate the implementation of the national project of water canal lining across the governorates to rationalize and reduce water seepage, announced Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli during a cabinet meeting with the concerned ministries on Monday.

 

The Prime Minister affirmed that disposal of waste in the canal is prohibited and pavements along the banks of the canals should be well constructed.

 

In April 2020, President Sisi issued a decision to establish canals lining across the country in 2 years instead of 10. The lining project is estimated to save 5 billion cubic meters in seepage losses.

 

Some governorates have already set the budget and started the lining. Alexandria houses 20 canals, whose lining will cost LE60 million. In Upper Egypt's Qena, the lining of six canals - extending on 6kilometers - out of 220 canals has been completed. Three of those are located on the road connecting the governorate with Luxor.

 

Egypt's share of Nile River water is 55.5 billion cubic meters in addition to half a billion cubic meters of non-renewable subterranean water in the deserts.